scabbard English · revision 1531

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1297}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈskæb.əd/ ''(UK)''; /ˈskæb.ɚd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|scabard]], earlier [[m|enm|scauberc]], [[m|enm|scaubert]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|xno|*escauberc]], recorded in the plural [[m|xno|escaubers]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Collins 2023) probably a compound meaning “blade protector”:^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) compare [[goh|scār|t=blade, scissors, sword]] (see [[shear]]) and [[m|goh|bergan|t=to protect, hide]] (see [[bury]]).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(Collins 2023) Hoad and Skeat take the first element instead from [[m|goh|scala|t=shell, husk]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911) The English spelling ending in -ard may be influenced by [[tabard]].^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The sheath protecting the blade of a sword or dagger (1297 in the OED, and as ''sckauberk'' probably before 1300 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figurative uses often pair it with the sword (c. 1380),^(OED 1989) and in the 19th century the scabbard was used as a type of peace, opposed to the sword.^(OED 1989) To ''throw away the scabbard'' is to give up all thought of peace.^(OED 1989) The verb, to sheathe a sword, dates from 1579–80,^(OED 1989) and in the army it also meant to punish someone by beating with a scabbard.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) The word was also applied to sheaths for carbines and tools.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a sword sheath.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1391 – ''scabard''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1579 – verb, to sheathe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1802 – to punish with a scabbard.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[sheath]] for the blade of a [[sword]], [[dagger]] or [[bayonet]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sheath for carrying a gun or tool.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put into or furnish with a scabbard; to [[sheathe]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unscabbard]]

+ * [[scabbard fish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hauberk]]

+ * [[shear]]

+ * [[bury]]

+ * [[harbor]]

+ * [[sheath]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}