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Ply vs Sheath - What's the difference?

ply | sheath | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between ply and sheath

is that ply is a layer of material while sheath is a scabbard; a holster for a sword.

As verbs the difference between ply and sheath

is that ply is to bend; to fold while sheath is to put an object (especially a weapon, in particular, a sword) into its sheath.

ply

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(plies)
  • A layer of material.
  • A strand that, twisted together with other strands, makes up yarn or rope.
  • (colloquial) Plywood.
  • (artificial intelligence, game theory) In two-player sequential games, a "half-turn", or one move made by one of the players.
    • He proposed to build Deep Purple, a super-computer capable of 24-ply look-ahead for chess.
  • State, condition.
  • * 1749 , John Cleland, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure , Penguin 1985, p. 66:
    • You may be sure, in the ply I was now taking, I had no objection to the proposal, and was rather a-tiptoe for its accomplishment.
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) , see Etymololgy 1.

    Verb

  • to .
  • * L'Estrange
    • The willow plied , and gave way to the gust.
  • to .
    • Derived terms
    * plier (agent noun) * pliers

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl)

    Verb

  • To ly.
    • He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years.
  • * Waller
    • Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply .
  • To work diligently.
  • * Milton
    • Ere half these authors be read (which will soon be with plying hard and daily).
  • * Addison
    • He was forced to ply in the streets as a porter.
  • To vigorously.
    • He plied his ax with bloody results.
  • To ly.
    • ply the seven seas
    A steamer plies between certain ports.
  • To in offering.
  • * 1929 , , Chapter VII, Section vi
    • Esther began to cry. But when the fire had been lit specially to warm her chilled limbs and Adela had plied her with hot negus she began to feel rather a heroine.
    She plied him with liquor.
  • To press upon; to urge importunately.
    • to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink
  • * Shakespeare
    • He plies the duke at morning and at night.
  • To employ diligently; to use steadily.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Go ply thy needle; meddle not.
  • (nautical) To work to windward; to beat.

    • sheath

    English

    Alternative forms

    * sheathe

    Noun

    (sheaths)
  • A scabbard; a holster for a sword.
  • Anything that has a similar shape to a scabbard for a sword that is for the purpose of holding an object that is longer than it is wide; a case.
  • The insulating outer cover of an electrical cable.
  • A tight-fitting dress.
  • (British) A condom.
  • The foreskin of certain animals, e.g. dogs and horses.
  • The base of a leaf when sheathing or investing a stem or branch, as in grasses.
  • One of the elytra of an insect.

    • Synonyms

    * (scabbard) scabbard * (long case) ** case ** casing ** cover ** covering ** envelope * (tight-fitting dress) * See also

    Related terms

    * sheathe * heliosheath * resheath, resheathe * unsheath, unsheathe

    Verb

  • To put an object (especially a weapon, in particular, a sword) into its sheath.
  • * John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther
    • But when his foe lies prostrate on the plain, / He sheaths his paws, uncurls his angry mane, / And pleased with bloodless honours of the day, / Walks over and disdains th' inglorious prey.

    Antonyms

    * unsheath

    Derived terms

    * resheath * resheathe

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

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