n. [ OE. shete, schete, AS. scēte, sc&ymacr_;te, fr. sceát a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment); originally, that which shoots out, from the root of AS. sceótan to shoot. √159. See Shoot, v. t. ] In general, a large, broad piece of anything thin, as paper, cloth, etc.; a broad, thin portion of any substance; an expanded superficies. Specifically: (a) A broad piece of cloth, usually linen or cotton, used for wrapping the body or for a covering; especially, one used as an article of bedding next to the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

He fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners. Acts x. 10, 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A broad piece of paper, whether folded or unfolded, whether blank or written or printed upon; hence, a letter; a newspaper, etc. (c) A single signature of a book or a pamphlet; in pl., the book itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

To this the following sheets are intended for a full and distinct answer. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) A broad, thinly expanded portion of metal or other substance; as, a sheet of copper, of glass, or the like; a plate; a leaf. (e) A broad expanse of water, or the like. “The two beautiful sheets of water.” Macaulay. (f) A sail. Dryden. (g) (Geol.) An extensive bed of an eruptive rock intruded between, or overlying, other strata. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ AS. sceáta. See the Etymology above. ] (Naut.) (a) A rope or chain which regulates the angle of adjustment of a sail in relation in relation to the wind; -- usually attached to the lower corner of a sail, or to a yard or a boom. (b) pl. The space in the forward or the after part of a boat where there are no rowers; as, fore sheets; stern sheets. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sheet is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote that the substance to the name of which it is prefixed is in the form of sheets, or thin plates or leaves; as, sheet brass, or sheet-brass; sheet glass, or sheet-glass; sheet gold, or sheet-gold; sheet iron, or sheet-iron, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sheet in the wind, half drunk. [ Sailors' Slang ] --
Both sheets in the wind, very drunk. [ Sailors' Slang ] --
In sheets, lying flat or expanded; not folded, or folded but not bound; -- said especially of printed sheets. --
Sheet bend (Naut.), a bend or hitch used for temporarily fastening a rope to the bight of another rope or to an eye. --
Sheet lightning,
Sheet piling, etc. See under Lightning, Piling, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sheeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheeting. ] 1. To furnish with a sheet or sheets; to wrap in, or cover with, a sheet, or as with a sheet. “The sheeted dead.” “When snow the pasture sheets.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To expand, as a sheet. [ 1913 Webster ]

The star shot flew from the welkin blue,
As it fell from the sheeted sky. J. R. Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sheet home (Naut.), to haul upon a sheet until the sail is as flat, and the clew as near the wind, as possible. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ OE. scheten to shoot, AS. sceótan; cf. OE. shoot anchor. See Shoot, v. t. ] 1. (Naut.) A large anchor stowed on shores outside the waist of a vessel; -- called also waist anchor. See the Note under Anchor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything regarded as a sure support or dependence in danger; the best hope or refuge. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Naut.) The cable belonging to the sheet anchor. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Naut.) A chain sheet cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Sheetfuls Enough to fill a sheet; as much as a sheet can hold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Cotton or linen cloth suitable for bed sheets. It is sometimes made of double width. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Hydraul. Engin.) A lining of planks or boards (rarely of metal) for protecting an embankment. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act or process of forming into sheets, or flat pieces; also, material made into sheets. [ 1913 Webster ]