SHEET
This article appears in Volume V24, Page 822 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: SHA-SIV
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SHEET , an expanse or surface, flat and thin, of various materials; a rope attached to a sail. These two apparently widely separated meanings are to be explained by the generally received etymology. In O. Eng. there are three words, all from the root seen in " shoot," to dart, let fly, thrust forward; scete or scyte, a sheet of cloth, sceat, corner or fold of a garment, projecting angles, region (e.g. sees scedt, portion of the sea, gulf, bay), and sceata, foot of a sail, pes veil ( Wright See Also: - WRIGHT,
CARROLL DAVIDSON (1840-1909) - WRIGHT, CHAUNCEY (1830-1875)
- WRIGHT, JOSEPH (1734-1797)
- WRIGHT, SILAS (1795-1847)
- THOMAS
See Also: - THOMAS
- THOMAS (c. 1654-1720)
- THOMAS (d. 110o)
- THOMAS, ARTHUR GORING (1850-1892)
- THOMAS, CHARLES LOUIS AMBROISE (1811-1896)
- THOMAS, GEORGE (c. 1756-1802)
- THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY (1816-187o)
- THOMAS, ISAIAH (1749-1831)
- THOMAS, PIERRE (1634-1698)
- THOMAS, SIDNEY GILCHRIST (1850-1885)
- THOMAS, ST
- THOMAS, THEODORE (1835-1905)
- THOMAS, WILLIAM (d. 1554)
_18091884_.html">WRIGHT, THOMAS See Also: - THOMAS
- THOMAS (c. 1654-1720)
- THOMAS (d. 110o)
- THOMAS, ARTHUR GORING (1850-1892)
- THOMAS, CHARLES LOUIS AMBROISE (1811-1896)
- THOMAS, GEORGE (c. 1756-1802)
- THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY (1816-187o)
- THOMAS, ISAIAH (1749-1831)
- THOMAS, PIERRE (1634-1698)
- THOMAS, SIDNEY GILCHRIST (1850-1885)
- THOMAS, ST
- THOMAS, THEODORE (1835-1905)
- THOMAS, WILLIAM (d. 1554)
(18091884) - WRIGHT, THOMAS (18101877)
- WRIGHT, WILLIAM ALDIS (1836 )
, Gloss .). The original meaning, according to Skeat, is " projection," or that which shoots out, then a corner, especially of a garment or of a cloth; after which it was extended to mean a whole cloth or " sheet." In Icelandic, the cognate word skaut has much the same meanings, including that of a rope attached to a sail. Other cognate forms in Teutonic languages are Ger. Schoss, lap, bosom, properly fold of a garment, Dutch school, Icel. skaut, &c. In current English usage, " sheet "is commonly applied to any flat, thin surface, such as a sheet of paper , a sheet of metal, or, in a transferred application, to an expanse of water, ice, fire, &c. More specifically it is used of a rectangular piece of linen or cotton used as that part of the usual bed clothes which are next the sleeper's body . In nautical usage the term " sheet " is applied to a rope or chain attached to the lower corners of a sail for the purpose of extension or change of direction (see RIGGING). The connexion in derivation with " shoot " is clearly seen in " sheet-anchor," earlier " shoot-anchor "one that is kept in reserve, to be " shot " in case of emergency (see ANCHOR).
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