Skiff Definition

skĭf
skiffs
noun
Any of various small, light, open boats propelled by oars, sail, or motor.
Webster's New World

A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.

Wiktionary
(weather) A light wind/rain/snow, etc.
A skiff of rain blew into the shed and the two men moved their chairs back.
Wiktionary
(slang) Used when referring to anyone (typically rednecks and fishermen) who has a degree of intelligence, but believes they are more than they actually are.
Wiktionary

(weather, Nova Scotia) A deep blanket of snow covering the ground.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb
To navigate in a skiff.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Skiff

Noun

Singular:
skiff
Plural:
skiffs

Origin of Skiff

  • From Middle French esquif, from Old Italian schifo (“small boat"), from Lombardic *skif (“boat"), from Proto-Germanic *skipÄ… (“boat, ship"), from Proto-Indo-European *skei- (“to split, cut"). Cognate with Old High German skif (“boat, ship"), Old English scip (“small craft, boat"). More at ship.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English skif from Old French esquif from Old Italian schifo of Germanic origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Borrowing from Scottish Gaelic sguabag.

    From Wiktionary

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