noun

skiff

skihf

noun

A small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed.

"He rowed out to the buoy in a small skiff."

A light, brief dusting of snow, or a passing shower of rain.

"There was just a skiff of snow on the ground this morning."

How to Use Skiff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small light boat, or (regionally) a light dusting of snow.

Common pairings

row a skiff a skiff of snow

Word Forms

skiffed past tense, skiffed past tense, skiffed past tense, skiffs plural, skiffs plural, skiffs plural, Skiffs plural, skiffs singular, skiffs singular, skiffs singular

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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

tiff biff riff diff jiff stiff cliff sniff whiff Griff spliff tariff

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