sheet etymology

Etymology

The word "sheet" comes from the Old English word "scyte," which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*skutjom," meaning "something that covers." This root is also found in the words "scuttle" and "scotch."

Meaning and Origin

In modern English, the word "sheet" has a variety of meanings related to its original sense of "something that covers."

  • A large piece of cloth used for sleeping on: A sheet is a piece of fabric, typically made of cotton, linen, or silk, that is used as a covering for a bed.
  • A large piece of paper: A sheet of paper is a single piece of paper that is typically used for writing, printing, or drawing.
  • A thin, flat layer of something: A sheet of ice, a sheet of metal, a sheet of plastic, etc.

The word "sheet" is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions, such as:

  • Clean sheet: A new start, a fresh beginning.
  • Have a sheet in the wind: To be drunk.
  • Turn over a new sheet: To change one's ways, to start again.

The word "sheet" is a common word with a long and varied history. Its origins lie in the Proto-Germanic language, and it has been used in English for over a thousand years.

sheet relate terms

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  • sheet

    Etymology The word sheet comes from the Old English word scyte which is itself deriv