sheaf
UK[ʃiːf]US[ʃiːf]
n
a number of things, especially pieces of paper or stalks of grain, tied or held together in a bundle.
Etymology
the word 'sheaf' originates from the old english 'scēaf', which referred to a bundle of grain stalks. this old english term is derived from the proto-germanic 'skaubaz', meaning 'sheaf' or 'bundle'. the proto-germanic root is further traced back to the proto-indo-European '(s)keup-', conveying the sense 'to cluster, bunch, or tuft'. the semantic core of a gathered bundle has remained remarkably consistent from its ancient roots to its modern application for bound stalks of grain or, by extension, a collection of papers.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword from old english. it does not contain separable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the farmer gathered the wheat into a neat sheaf.
he carried a sheaf of important documents under his arm.
the old manuscript was found in a sheaf of loose papers.