sheaf (1), scheef, shef, sheffe, sheive

[A. S. sceaf; cogn. with Dutch schoof; Icel. skauf; Ger. schaub. The A. S.sceaf is from sceaf, pa. t. of scúfan =to shove; hence, a sheaf is a bundle of things shoved together.] 1. A quantity or bundle of things bound or held together; specifically: (1) A quantity of the stalks of wheat, rye, oats, or barley bound together; a bundle of stalks or straw. "The fashion is to cut with a hooke or syccle the straw in the middest: and betweene every two sheaves they sit downe, and then crop off the ears."- P . Holland : Pliny, bk. xviii., ch. xxx. (2) A bundle or number of arrows; as many as will fill the quiver. "They will looke at his verie bow, and sheive of arrowes, as at straunge and wonderous things."-P. Holland : Pliny, bk. viii., ch. xxxii. 2. A collection or quantity of things close or thick together; a quantity or number generally. "And hence in fair remembrance worn, Yon sheaf of spears his crest has borne." Scott: Lay of the last Minstrel , iv. 8. *3. A quantity of steel, containing thirty gads. "The one is often sold for the other, and like tale vsed in both, that is to saie thirtie gads to the sheffe , and twelue sheffes to the burden."-Holinshed: Descript. of England, bk. ii., ch. xi. sheaf (2), s. [SHEAVE, 8.] The wheel in the block of a pulley; a sheave.