sheaf
UK: ʃiːf | US: ʃiːf
n. a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping
n. a collection of items (e.g., papers, arrows) bound together
The word "sheaf" traces back to Old English scēaf, meaning "a bundle of grain." It shares roots with Old High German scoub (sheaf) and Old Norse skauf (fox's tail, metaphorically a bundle). The term has retained its core meaning of a tied bundle, originally agricultural but later extended metaphorically to other grouped items (e.g., papers). Its compact Germanic structure makes it non-splittable into smaller morphemes in modern English.
The farmer gathered the wheat into a neat sheaf.
She handed me a sheaf of documents to review.
Archers carried their arrows in a sheaf on their backs.
A sheaf of autumn leaves tumbled across the path.
The librarian tied the old letters into a sheaf with twine.