Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sheet

Sheet

,
Noun.
[OE.
shete
,
schete
, AS.
scēte
,
scȳte
, fr.
sceát
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, that which shoots out, from the root of AS.
sceótan
to shoot. √159. See
Shoot
,
Verb.
T.
]
In general, a large, broad piece of anything thin, as paper, cloth, etc.; a broad, thin portion of any substance; an expanded superficies.
Specifically:
(a)
A broad piece of cloth, usually linen or cotton, used for wrapping the body or for a covering; especially, one used as an article of bedding next to the body.
He fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great
sheet
knit at the four corners.
Acts x. 10, 11.
If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me
In one of those same
sheets
.
Shakespeare
(b)
A broad piece of paper, whether folded or unfolded, whether blank or written or printed upon; hence, a letter; a newspaper, etc.
(c)
A single signature of a book or a pamphlet;
in
pl.
,
the book itself.
To this the following
sheets
are intended for a full and distinct answer.
Waterland.
(d)
A broad, thinly expanded portion of metal or other substance;
as, a
sheet
of copper, of glass, or the like; a plate; a leaf
.
(e)
A broad expanse of water, or the like.
“The two beautiful sheets of water.”
Macaulay.
(f)
A sail.
Dryden.
(g)
(Geol.)
An extensive bed of an eruptive rock intruded between, or overlying, other strata.
2.
[AS.
sceáta
. See the Etymology above.]
(Naut.)
(a)
A rope or chain which regulates the angle of adjustment of a sail in relation in relation to the wind; – usually attached to the lower corner of a sail, or to a yard or a boom.
(b)
pl.
The space in the forward or the after part of a boat where there are no rowers;
as, fore
sheets
; stern
sheets
.
Sheet is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote that the substance to the name of which it is prefixed is in the form of sheets, or thin plates or leaves; as, sheet brass, or sheet-brass; sheet glass, or sheet-glass; sheet gold, or sheet-gold; sheet iron, or sheet-iron, etc.
A sheet in the wind
,
half drunk.
[Sailors’ Slang]
Both sheets in the wind
,
very drunk.
[Sailors' Slang]
In sheets
,
lying flat or expanded; not folded, or folded but not bound; – said especially of printed sheets.
Sheet bend
(Naut.)
,
a bend or hitch used for temporarily fastening a rope to the bight of another rope or to an eye.
Sheet lightning
,
Sheet piling
,
etc. See under
Lightning
,
Piling
, etc.

Sheet

,
Verb.
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.
2.
To expand, as a sheet.
The star shot flew from the welkin blue,
As it fell from the
sheeted
sky.
J. R. Drake.
To sheet home
(Naut.)
,
to haul upon a sheet until the sail is as flat, and the clew as near the wind, as possible.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sheet

SHEET

,
Noun.
[L. schenda; Gr. The Greek and Latin words signify a table or plate for writing on; L. scindo, Gr.]
1. A broad piece of cloth used as part of bed-furniture.
2. A broad piece of paper as it comes from the manufacturer. Sheets of paper are of different sizes, as royal, demi, foolscap, pot and post-paper.
3. A piece of paper printed, folede and bound, or formed in to a book in blank, and making four, eight, sixteen or twenty-four pages, &c.
4. Any thing expanded; as a sheet of water or of fire; a sheet of copper, lead or iron.
5. Sheets, plu. a book or pamphlet. The following sheets contains a full answer to my opponent.
6. A sail.

SHEET

,
Noun.
In nautical language, a rope fastened to one or both the lower corners of a sail to extend and retain it in a particular situation. When a ship sails with a side-wind, the lower corners of the main and fore-sails are fastened with a tackand a sheet.

SHEET

,
Verb.
T.
1. To furnish with sheets. [Little used.]
2. To fold in a sheet. [Little used.]
3. To cover as with a sheet; to cover with something broad and thin.
When snow the pasture sheets. Shak.