skiff

[ skif ]

noun

1. any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.

skiff

/ skɪf /

noun

1. any of various small boats propelled by oars, sail, or motor

Other Words From

• skiffless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skiff¹

1565–75; < early Italian schifo < Old High German scif ship ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of skiff¹

C18: from French esquif, from Old Italian schifo a boat, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German schif ship

Example Sentences

Every day after dawn prayers, Akram and seven friends and relatives hoist his skiff across the beach at Al Khokha, and into the Red Sea.

From Time

The guide will pole the skiff along on the shallow flats from a platform at the back of the boat, while the angler stands ready to cast from the front.

From Washington Post

The thrust was nervous and ill-calculated, and the next instant the skiff had blundered under the bows of the launch.

From Project Gutenberg

Coming to the first of the dim shapes, he grasped it and thereby propelled the skiff to another beyond.

From Project Gutenberg

So we unhitched a skiff and pulled down the river two mile and a half, to the big scar on the hillside, and went ashore.

From Project Gutenberg

I toted up a load, and went back and set down on the bow of the skiff to rest.

From Project Gutenberg

So he locked me in and took the skiff, and started off towing the raft about half-past three.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• canoe
• dinghy
• rowboat