שיף shif Old Italian.

Skiff etymology. Etymology The word is related to ship and has a complicated etymology. As verbs the difference between skiff and scow. Etymology 2.

Sculling- or racing-boat XVIII. Skiff n small boat 1570s from French esquif 1540s from Italian schifo little boat from a Germanic source such as Old High German scif boat see ship n. Any of various small boats propelled by oars sail or motor.

Hence skiffer a flat stone used in playing ducks and drakes m. Hide Quotations Hide Etymology Cite this entry SKIFF n. Skiff To sail upon or pass over in a skiff or light boat.

A skiff of rain blew. History and Etymology for skift. Schifo Lombardic skif OHG.

From French esquif from Old Italian schifo a boat of Germanic origin. A flat-bottomed rowboat From the interenet encyclopedia The term skiff is used and has been used to refer to many various types of small boats. Skiff n small boat 1570s from French esquif 1540s from Italian schifo little boat from a Germanic source such as Old High German scif boat see ship n.

Originally the small boat of a ship. Compare the derivative skiffle whence English skiffle and English skift light dusting of snow from Scots skift light shower of snow from skift move lightly perhaps related to shift Old Norse skipta or perhaps an onomatopoeic formation. Ship comes from the Old English scip which has the same Germanic predecessor.