sheaf
/ʃiːf/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*skaufō — bundle, bunch
Overview
Meaning Now
- A bundle of grain stalks tied together after reaping.
- A bundle or collection of items, such as papers or arrows, held or tied together.
Literal older meaning
a bundle or bunch
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
scēaf
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The term has been used since Old English to describe the specific act of harvesting grain, where stalks were gathered into manageable bundles for transport and threshing. By the 16th century, its metaphorical use extended to any cluster or bundle of objects.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*skaufō
“bundle”
- Old English
scēaf
“bundle of corn”
- Middle English
schef
“bundle of corn, collection”
- Modern English
sheaf
“bundle of stalks or other items”
Connections
Word parts
sheaf
root
bundle
Related across languages
Old Saxon
skōf
bundle
Old High German
scoub
bundle, wisp
Old Norse
skauf
fox tail, bundle
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