Definition of "sheathing" [sheath•ing]

• A layer of boards or of other wood or fiber materials applied to the outer studs, joists, and rafters of a building to strengthen the structure and serve as a base for an exterior weatherproof cladding. (noun)
• Nautical An exterior covering on the underwater part of a ship's hull that protects it against marine growths. (noun)
• The act of providing sheathing. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Yes, you can add corner bracing, but full house wood sheathing is best for resisting wind."
• "The pearly outer sheathing is translucent, obscuring the glowing interior and giving it a muffled shimmer."
• "And on top of that, some of the sheathing, which is important, was not the right sheathing."