sheaf

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A bundle of cut stalks of grain tied together.

   The farmer stacked sheaves of wheat across the field.

2. 2
   noun

   A bundle of things, such as papers, held together.

   She pulled a sheaf of documents from her bag.

3. 3
   verb

   To gather and tie grain into bundles.

   The workers sheafed the harvested wheat before sunset.

From Middle English scheef, from Old English sċēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *skaub, from Proto-Germanic *skauba- (“sheaf”). Cognates Akin to West Frisian skeaf (“sheaf”), Dutch schoof (“sheaf”), German Schaub, Old Norse skauf (“a fox's tail”). Compare further Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), German Schopf (“tuft”).

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