weif

Middle English

Alternative forms

• wayf, wayff, waif, waife, wayph, weyff, weyf, wayve, weyve

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman waif, from Old Norse veif (“flag”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wæi̯f/

Noun

weif (plural weifs)

1. Unowned goods; property lacking an owner:
   1. A waif; a castaway or vagabond.
   2. An unowned specimen of livestock.
2. The privilege of being able to take in such goods.
3. The money deriving from selling unowned goods.

Descendants

• English: waif
• Scots: waith, waff

References

• “weif, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-12.