Scabbard
SCABBARD, the sheath of a sword. The early forms of the word given in the Promptorium parvulorum are scauberk, scaubert or scauberd. The termination is certainly from the Teutonic bergen, to protect, as seen in " hauberk," " hawberk " (i.e. haliberg), literally a protection for the neck and shoulders, hence the " long tunic of mail " of the 11th century (see ARMS AND ARMOUR). The first part is doubtful; Skeat takes it as representing the O. Fr. escale, mod. ecaille, shell. Ger. Schale; the word would therefore mean an outer sheath or shell that covers or protects.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
