Definition of "skiff" in English

noun

1. A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.

2. Any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.

verb

1. (nautical, transitive) To navigate in a skiff.

noun

1. A light, fleeting shower of rain or snow, or gust of wind, etc.

   • A skiff of rain blew into the shed and the two men moved their chairs back.

2. A (typically light) dusting of snow or ice (or dust, etc) (on ground, water, trees, etc).

verb

1. (dialectal, of rain or snow) To fall lightly or briefly, and lightly cover the ground (etc).

   • 1983, Roy McFadden, The Selected Roy McFadden, Dundonald, N. Ireland : Blackstaff Press With glimpses through the skiffing rain / Of Donegal across the bay, / And Scotland when the early mist is blown, […]

noun

1. An act of slightly pruning tea bushes, placing new leaves at a convenient height without removing much woody growth.

verb

1. To cut (a tea bush) to maintain the plucking table.