SKIFF


Meaning of SKIFF in English

I. ˈskif noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French esquif, from Old Italian schifo, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German skif ship — more at ship

1. : a small light sailing ship

2. : a light rowboat

3. : a boat with centerboard and spritsail light enough to be rowed and sometimes steered by an occupant's shifting his weight — called also St. Lawrence skiff

4. : a small fast powerboat

II. intransitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

: to navigate in a skiff

III. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: probably alteration of skift (I)

intransitive verb

Scotland : skim , flit

transitive verb

Scotland : to touch lightly

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.