waft

Etymology

Comes from Middle English waften, of uncertain origin. It may derive from an unattested Old English *wafettan, from wafian (“to wave”) + -ettan, or it may instead be borrowed from Middle Dutch wachten (“to guard, provide for”). Compare also German wabern (“to waft”), Faroese veiftra (“to wave”) and Icelandic váfa (“to fluctuate, waver, doubt”).