ppl. a. [f. prec. or UN-1 8.]

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  1.  Of a weapon: Drawn from the sheath; not covered by a sheath.

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c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xxxv. (1869), 22. It is bettere the swerd be shethed than vnshethed.

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a. 1593.  Marlowe, Ovid’s Eleg., II. ii. 64. My hands an vnsheath’d shyning weapon haue not.

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1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Blanc, A naked or vnsheathed … sword.

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1638.  Suckling, Aglaura, III. i. Blesse me, what means this unsheath’d minister of death [= a sword]?

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1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., II. 253. He … with his Sword unsheath’d … Commands both Combatants to cease their Strife.

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1814.  Scott, Lord of Isles, II. xxiii. Do dirks unsheathed suit bridal cheer?

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1842.  Borrow, Bible in Spain, x. He held his unsheathed knife in his hand.

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  fig.  1830.  Mrs. Hemans, Songs Affec., Spirit’s Return. Yet something,… as that unsheathed spirit-glance I met, Made my soul faint.

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  2.  Not protected by a sheath or sheathing; uncovered, exposed.

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1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 9. Any unsheathed or Wood-sheathed Ships. Ibid., 24. Not only in sheathed Ships … but unsheathed too.

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1790.  Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 126. An unsheathed fire ship … was left to act as an advice-boat.

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1884.  Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner., 393. The delicate unsheathed parts of the vascular bundles.

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