noun
skiff
skihf
Skiff (noun) means a small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed. Example: “He rowed out to the buoy in a small skiff.”
noun
1
A small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed.
"He rowed out to the buoy in a small skiff."
2
A light, brief dusting of snow, or a passing shower of rain.
"A little on again, off again, skiff of rain made the road slippery in spots."
— J. T. Brewer, Stewards of the White Circle: Calm Before the Storm (2013)
"A skiff of rain blew into the shed and the two men moved their chairs back."
"Meadowlarks are in full voice, as are all manner of ducks, geese and gulls; with just a skiff of wind, sound travels a long way on mornings such as this."
— Brad Dokken, More bust than boom for dwindling prairie chickens in Grand Forks County (2019)
"There was just a skiff of snow on the ground this morning."
How to use skiff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small light boat, or (regionally) a light dusting of snow.
Common pairings
row a skiff
a skiff of snow
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Word forms
- Plural
- skiffs
- Third person singular
- skiffs
- Past tense
- skiffed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He rowed out to the buoy in a small _____.
Etymology
From Middle French "esquif," traced back through Italian to a Germanic word for "boat" — the same root as "ship."
Rhymes for skiff
See all rhymes for skiff →Frequently asked questions
What does “skiff” mean?
The word “skiff” means a small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed. In plain terms, a small light boat, or (regionally) a light dusting of snow.
How do you pronounce “skiff”?
“Skiff” is pronounced skihf (/skɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “skiff” in a sentence?
Here is “skiff” used in a sentence: “He rowed out to the buoy in a small skiff.”
What part of speech is “skiff”?
“Skiff” is a noun.
Where does the word “skiff” come from?
The word “skiff” comes from Middle French. From Middle French "esquif," traced back through Italian to a Germanic word for "boat" — the same root as "ship.".
How many meanings does “skiff” have?
“Skiff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed.
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