sheathe

Etymology

From Late Middle English shethen (“to put (a sword or knife) into a sheath, sheathe; to provide with a sheath; (figuratively) to have sexual intercourse”) [and other forms], then: * probably from Old English *scēaþian; or * possibly from Middle English sheth, shethe (“holder for a sword, knife, etc., scabbard, sheath”) [and other forms] + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs). Sheth(e) is derived from Old English sċēaþ (“sheath”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaiþiju, from Proto-Germanic *skaiþiz (“sheath; covering”), from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to dissect, split”) (possibly from the notion of a split stick with a sword inserted).

verb

1. (transitive) To put (something such as a knife or sword) into a sheath.
   Be aware of the smiling enemy, that openly sheatheth his weapon, / But mingleth poison in secret with the sacred salt of hospitality. 1838, Martin Farquhar Tupper, “Of Searching for Pride”, in Proverbial Philosophy: A Book of Thoughts and Arguments, Originally Treated, London: Joseph Rickerby,[…], →OCLC, page 69
   Ke okakla foo le, obon oke-woo. If thy knife cut thee thou sheathest it. N.B.—Meaning thou dost not cast it away. 1865, “Proverbs in the Ga or Accra Language”, in Richard F[rancis] Burton, compiler, Wit and Wisdom from West Africa; or A Book of Proverbial Philosophy, Idioms, Enigmas, and Laconisms, London: Tinsley Brothers,[…], →OCLC, number 190, page 169
2. (transitive) To encase (something) with a protective covering.
   A chearful heart does good like a medicine, but envy corrodes like a poiſon; it is ſo ſharp, that it cuts the body which ſheathes it. 1765, Edward Young, “A Vindication of Providence: Or, A True Measure of Human Life. In which the Passions are Considered in a New Light.”, in The Works in Prose, of the Reverend Edward Young, LL.D.[…], London: Printed for P. Brown, H. Hill, and S. Payne, →OCLC, page 239
   When thou sheathest thy glances in thy eyelids, they inflict deadly wounds: what must they be when thou drawest them from their scabbards! 1843, Ibn Khallikan, quoting Najm ad-din Mûsa al-Kamrâwi, “Abu ’l-Hasan al-Husri”, in [William] Mac Gukin de Slane, transl., Ibn Khallikan’s Biographical Dictionary: Translated from the Arabic (Oriental Translation Fund; no. 59), volume I, Paris: Printed for the Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland; sold by Benjamin Duprat,[…] and Allen and Co,[…], →OCLC, page 243
   She sheathed her legs in the sheerest of the nylons that her father had brought back from the Continent, and slipped her feet into the toeless, high-heeled shoes of black suède. 1954, Alexander Alderson, chapter 17, in The Subtle Minotaur, London: John Gifford, →OCLC, →OL
3. (transitive) Of an animal: to draw back or retract (a body part) into the body, such as claws into a paw.
   We are told, that Dews and the Juices of Flowers are their [hummingbirds'] Food, which they extract with their little Tongue, whoſe Length exceeds that of their Bill, and ſerves them inſtead of a Trunk, which they contract and ſheathe in their Bill. 1750, [Noël-Antoine Pluche], “Birds. Dialogue XI.”, in Samuel Humphreys, transl., Spectacle de la Nature: Or, Nature Display’d. Being Discourses on Such Particulars of Natural History, as were Thought Most Proper to Excite the Curiosity, and Form the Minds of Youth. […] Translated from the Original French, 7th revised and corrected edition, London: Printed for R. Francklin,[…], →OCLC, page 183
4. (transitive, dated or literary, poetic, figurative) To thrust (a sharp object like a sword, a claw, or a tusk) into something.
   [T]hey who either thro Hatred, or Ambition, or Covetouſneſs, do fight with evil Men, and ſo kill one another, fight not under the Banner of Chriſt, but the Devil; ſhewing … how difficult for ſuch to be in Charity (without which no Man ſhall ſee God) who ſheathe their Swords in their Brethens Bowels. 1708, Erasmus Roterodamus, “[A Sermon of Conforming and Reforming, Made to the Convocation at St. Paul’s Church in London, by John Colet, D.D. Dean of the Said Church, in the Year 1511.] The Life of Dr. Colet.”, in John Dunton], editor, The Second Volume of The Phenix: Or, A Revival of Scarce and Valuable Pieces No Where to be Found but in the Closets of the Curious.[…], volume II, number Phenix XVII, London: Printed for J[ohn] Morphew[…], →OCLC, § 29, page 25
5. (transitive, obsolete or rare, figurative) To abandon or cease (animosity, etc.)
6. (transitive, obsolete) To provide (a sword, etc.) with a sheath.
7. (transitive, medicine, obsolete) To relieve the harsh or painful effect of (a drug, a poison, etc.).
   https://books.google.com/books?id=Bm8FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA540 page 540 Theſe ſmooth and oily Med'cines act by ſheathing acrimonious Salts in the Blood, and preventing Inconveniences from 'em; and by relaxing the Fibres, and hence widening 'em. … https://books.google.com/books?id=Bm8FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA541 page 541 [They] are convenient in Coughs, from thin and ſharp Rheums, becauſe they ſheathe the Salts that gall the Lungs. 1716, John Radcliffe, “[An Appendix to Dr. Radcliffe’s Recipe’s.] Ramose, Flexile, Smooth Medicines. [Observations.]”, in Pharmacopoeia Radcliffeana: Or, Dr. Radcliff’s Prescriptions, Faithfully Gather’d from His Original Recipes.[…], 2nd corrected edition, London: Printed for Charles Rivington,[…], →OCLC, pages 540 and 541
   He concludes this Diſſertation, by endeavouring to explain the Manner of its [olive oil's] operating, which he attributes to its fat inviſcating Nature, whereby it ſheathes the Spicula of the Poiſon. 1738 December, C. Mortimer, “VI. An Abstract by C. Mortimer, M.D. Secr[etary of the] R[oyal] S[ociety] of an Inaugural Dissertation Published at Wittemberg 1736. by Dr. Abraham Vater, F.R.S. Concerning the Cure of the Bite of a Viper, Cured by Sallad-oil.”, in Philosophical Transactions. Giving Some Account of the Present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours, of the Ingenious, in Many Considerable Parts of the World, volume XXXIX, number 451, London: Printed for T. Woodward, […]; and C. Davis […]; printers to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 443
   Comfry Root (Symphytum) is a principal Vulnerary; it is very mucilaginous and thickening, its clammy Juice ſheathes the Sharpneſs of the Humours; … 1747, Tho[mas] Short, Medicina Britannica: Or A Treatise on Such Physical Plants, as are Generally to be Found in the Fields and Gardens in Great-Britain: Containing a Particular Account of Their Nature, Virtues, and Uses.[…], 2nd edition, London: Printed for R. Manby and H. Shute Cox,[…], →OCLC, paragraph 73, page 66