Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1889-1930
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SKIFF, n.2 Also skift, a small yawl (Rs., Bnff., Arg. 1950). See note to Skiff, n.3
Sc. usage: a small type of fishing-boat like a yawl with oars and a lug-sail (Bnff. 1914; ne. and m.Sc. (in coastal areas) 1970).wm.Sc. 1889 J. C. Alston West Coast Ballads 6:
A seed three skifts start frae the quay and pull oot ti the bay.Ork. 1894 Sc. Antiquary VIII. 55:
Me peerie bairn I'll safely ferry, To I hae nather ship nor skift.Arg. 1914 J. M. Hay Gillespie i. xi:
It was rainin' in sheets when we came doon tae the skift.Bnff.2 1929:
The ween's ower strong the day for the skifts.Bnff. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 30:
According to some authorities, the name “Baldie” (in Fifeshire “Bauldie”) is a contraction of Garibaldi. In Banffshire this type of boat is often called a “skiff”.
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"Skiff n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skiff_n2>
