sheet

sheet
{{11}}sheet (n.1) O.E. sciete (W.Saxon), scete (Mercian) "cloth, covering," from P.Gmc. *skautijon, from base *skauta- "project" (Cf. O.N. skaut "corner of cloth," Goth. skauts "seam, hem of a garment;" Du. schoot Ger. Schoß "bosom, lap"), from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, chase, throw" (see SHOOT (Cf. shoot) (v.)).
Sense of "piece of paper" first recorded c.1500; that of "any broad, flat surface" (of metal, open water, etc.) is from 1590s. Of falling rain from 1690s. Meaning "a newspaper" is first recorded 1749. Sheet lightning is attested from 1794; sheet music is from 1857. Between the sheets "in bed" (usually with sexual overtones) is attested from 1590s; to be white as a sheet is from 1751.
{{12}}sheet (n.2) "rope that controls a sail," O.E. sceatline "sheet-line," from sceata "lower part of sail," originally "piece of cloth," from same root as SHEET (Cf. sheet) (n.1). The sense transferred to the rope by late 13c. This probably is the notion in phrase three sheets to the wind "drunk and disorganized," first recorded 1821 (in form three sheets in the wind), an image of a sloop-rigged sailboat whose three sheets have slipped through the blocks are lost to the wind, thus out of control. Apparently there was an early 19c. sailors' drunkenness scale involving one, two, and three sheets, three signifying the highest degree of inebriation; there is a two sheets in the wind attested from 1815.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Sheet — Sheet, n. [OE. shete, schete, AS. sc[=e]te, sc[=y]te, fr. sce[ a]t a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment); originally,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheet — W2S2 [ʃi:t] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(for a bed)¦ 2¦(paper)¦ 3¦(thin flat piece)¦ 4¦(large flat area)¦ 5¦(of rain/fire)¦ 6¦(on a ship)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [: Old English; Origin: scyte] 1.) ¦(FO …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Sheet — Sheet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sheeted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sheeting}.] 1. To furnish with a sheet or sheets; to wrap in, or cover with, a sheet, or as with a sheet. The sheeted dead. When snow the pasture sheets. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To expand, as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sheet — sheet1 [shēt] n. [ME schete < OE sceat, piece of cloth, lappet, region, akin to Ger schoss, lap, ON skaut, lappet: for prob. IE base see SHOOT] 1. a large, rectangular piece of cotton, linen, etc., used on a bed, usually in pairs, one under… …   English World dictionary

  • sheet — [ ʃit ] noun count *** ▸ 1 cloth on bed ▸ 2 piece of something flat ▸ 3 wide area ▸ 4 looking like moving wall ▸ 5 rope on boat with sail ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) a large piece of thin cloth that you put on your bed and use for lying on or covering your… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Sheet — may refer to:* Sheet, a villiage in Hampshire * Bed sheet, a piece of cloth used to cover a mattress * Sheet (sailing), a rope, cable or chain used to control a sail * The playing surface in the sport of curling * A piece of paper * A level or… …   Wikipedia

  • sheet — ‘cloth’ [OE] and sheet ‘rope attached to a sail’ [OE] are distinct words, although they have a common ancestor. This was the Germanic base *skaut , *skut ‘project’, which also produced English scot free, scuttle ‘sink a ship’, shoot, shot, shout …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • sheet — Ⅰ. sheet [1] ► NOUN 1) a large rectangular piece of cotton or other fabric, used on a bed to cover the mattress or as a layer beneath blankets. 2) a broad flat piece of metal or glass. 3) a rectangular piece of paper. 4) an extensive layer or… …   English terms dictionary

  • sheet — ‘cloth’ [OE] and sheet ‘rope attached to a sail’ [OE] are distinct words, although they have a common ancestor. This was the Germanic base *skaut , *skut ‘project’, which also produced English scot free, scuttle ‘sink a ship’, shoot, shot, shout …   Word origins

  • sheet — shēt n 1) a broad piece of cloth esp an oblong of usu. cotton or linen cloth used as an article of bedding 2) a portion of something that is thin in comparison to its length and breadth <a sheet of connective tissue> * * * (shēt) 1. a… …   Medical dictionary

  • sheet — A complete, unseparated group of postage stamps as printed on a press. The sheet is usually perforated and cut into four or more panes for eventual sale …   Glossary of postal terms

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