Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
gaine. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
gaine, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
gaine in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
gaine you have here. The definition of the word
gaine will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
gaine, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
French
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French guaine, from Old French guaïne, inherited from Latin vāgīna (“sheath, scabbard”). Doublet of borrowed vagin. Cognate with Italian guaina, Catalan beina, Spanish vaina, Portuguese bainha.
The change of the onset from Vulgar Latin /v/ to Old French /(ɡ)w/ is due to Germanic influence. One theory sees in it a confluence with Frankish *wāgi (“cup”, compare Old English wǣġe). Alternatively it might be simply that as a military term the word was used most frequently among the Frankish warrior class and therefore came to be generalised in the form corresponding to their accent.
Pronunciation
Noun
gaine f (plural gaines)
- sheath, scabbard (for dagger etc.)
- Synonym: fourreau
- (technology) casing, sheathing
- (botany) sheath
Related terms
Verb
gaine
- inflection of gainer:
- first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
- second-person singular imperative
Further reading
Anagrams
Middle English
Etymology 1
Adjective
gaine
- Alternative form of gayn (“direct, fast, good, helpful”)
Etymology 2
Preposition
gaine
- Alternative form of gain (“against”)
Etymology 3
Verb
gaine
- Alternative form of gaynen