waif English · revision 1238

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /weɪf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|xno|waif|t=lost property; stray]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably of Scandinavian origin,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) related to Old Norse ''veif'' “something flapping”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[waive]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, ownerless property that falls to the lord of the manor if unclaimed (1223 in Anglo-Latin;^(OED 1989) 1376 in English).^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A waif was unclaimed property such as goods washed up by the sea, or a stray animal.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The phrase ''waif and stray'' (1620s)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) led to the sense of a person, especially a child, without home or friends (1784).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1223 – ownerless property, in law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1376 – unclaimed property; a stray animal.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1624 – ''waif and stray''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1784 – a homeless person, especially a child.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A homeless or neglected person, especially a child.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A stray animal.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(law)'' Property found but unclaimed, such as goods washed up by the sea.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[waifish]]

+ * [[waiflike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[waive]]

+ * [[waft]]

+ * [[stray]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}