shiftn.
/ʃɪft/, U.S. /ʃɪft/ I. A movement or beginning.† 1. † b. at one shift: at one time. Obsolete. [Compare Icelandic eitt skipti once (Vigfusson).]
a. A movement to do something, a beginning. [The form scift , however, may possibly represent skift n.1, which is recorded from c1400.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > [noun] > being roused from inaction > motion as if to act
shifta1400
proffering1546
proffer1577
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10480 And þus to prai sco gaf a scift.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > simultaneity or contemporaneousness > [adverb]
on (or in) one sitheeOE
togethersc1175
togetherc1200
at once?c1225
at one shiftc1325
jointly1362
at one strokec1374
with that ilkec1390
at one shipea1400
withc1440
at a timec1485
at (in) one (an) instant1509
all at a shove1555
pari passu1567
in (also at, with) one breath1590
in that ilkec1590
with the same1603
in one1616
concurrently1648
concurringly1650
contemporarily1669
simultaneously1675
synchronistically1684
coevallya1711
in (also with) the same breath1721
synchronically1749
at a slap1753
synchronously1793
contemporaneously1794
coinstantaneously1807
coetaneouslya1817
consentaneously1817
at one or a sweep1834
coincidentally1837
at the very nonce1855
one time1873
coincidently1875
in parallel1969
real time1993
c1325 Metr. Hom. 26 The faurtend day at a schift Sal bathe brin bathe erthe and lift.
II. A share or portion.† 2. A share, a portion assigned on division. Obsolete. [Compare Middle Swedish skipt, German schicht (Law) ‘divisio bonorum’.]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > an allotted share, portion, or part > [noun]
dealc825
lotOE
dolea1225
partc1300
portion?1316
sort1382
parcelc1400
skiftc1400
pane1440
partagec1450
shift1461
skair1511
allotment1528
snapshare1538
share1539
slice1548
fee1573
snap1575
moiety1597
snatch1601
allotterya1616
proportiona1616
symbol1627
dealth1637
quantum1649
cavelc1650
snip1655
sortition1671
snack1683
quota1688
contingency1723
snick1723
contingent1728
whack1785
divvy1872
end1903
bite1925
1461–2 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 301 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 The mesuring of salte and corne that sholde long to the shifte of the communes.
1574 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 334 The Maior hath but an Aldermans shift saving onely of every shippe of wyne.
1627 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) Pittance to help make vpp on of our Shiftes of monye xij d.
III. An expedient or device.
3. † c. An entertaining or humorous device; a jest. Obsolete.† e. Manner of livelihood. to make an honest shift, to gain one's living honestly. Scottish. Obsolete.
a. An expedient, an ingenious device for effecting some purpose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means > available means or a resource > a device, contrivance, or expedient
costOE
craftOE
custc1275
ginc1275
devicec1290
enginec1300
quaintisec1300
contrevurec1330
castc1340
knackc1369
findinga1382
wilea1400
conject14..
skiftc1400
policy?1406
subtilityc1410
policec1450
conjecturea1464
industry1477
invention1516
cunning1526
shift1530
compass1540
chevisance1548
trade1550
tour1558
fashion1562
invent?1567
expediment1571
trick1573
ingeny1588
machine1595
lock1598
contrival1602
contrivement1611
artifice1620
recipea1643
ingenuity1651
expedient1653
contrivance1661
excogitation1664
mechanism1669
expediency1683
stroke1699
spell1728
management1736
manoeuvre1769
move1794
wrinkle1817
dodge1842
jigamaree1847
quiff1881
kink1889
lurk1916
gadget1920
fastie1931
ploy1940
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 267/1 Schyfte chevesaunce, cheuesance.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Cambridge iv I sought a shift their tenures to vndo.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. iii. 7 Ile finde a thousand shifts to get away. View more context for this quotation
1624 F. Quarles Sions Sonets viii. 5 My Dove, whom daily dangers teach new shifts.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 44. ¶8 The innumerable Shifts that small Wits put in practice to raise a Laugh.
1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. iii. 35 The brickmakers all about London, do mix sea-coal-ashes..with their clay..and by that shift save eight chaldron of coals out of eleven.
1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 118 A single man..can at any time try all the shifts, from taking land down to breaking stones within the high walls of the county jail.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage xix. 373 Other anecdotes illustrate the thousand shifts and devices of which Hannibal was a master.
b. Available means of effecting an end. Often in phrase (to have) no other shift. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > [noun] > that to which one has recourse
chevisancec1330
recoursec1405
resorta1413
refugec1425
shift1523
rescours1533
reserve1644
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means > available means or a resource
boota1225
chevisancec1330
shift1523
a help at maw1592
resource1665
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxiv. 293 We knowe all the shyfte in the countre [Fr. nous scauons tous les refuges] and so do nat they.
c1600 A. Montgomerie Bankis Helicon 105 I have no schift bot to resing All power into hir handis.
1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xiii. 60 Which pretense when Eumenes had espied, he had no other shift, but to try the matter against the traitor by the sword.
1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 74 This old man having no more shift to veile what he had hitherto endeavoured to conceale, declared unto his children that she was his wife.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [noun] > jest or pleasantry > a jest or joke
gameOE
jape1377
bourda1387
mirthc1390
mowa1393
chapec1400
skauncec1440
sport?1449
popc1540
flirt1549
jest1551
merriment1576
shifta1577
facetiae1577
gig1590
pleasantry1594
lepidity1647
rallery1653
drollery1654
wit-crack1662
joco1663
pleasance1668
joke1670
jocunditya1734
quizzification1801
funniment1826
side-splitter1834
funniness1838
quizzery1841
jocularity1846
rib-tickler1855
jocosity1859
humorism1860
gag1863
gas1914
nifty1918
mirthquaker1921
rib1929
boffo1934
giggle1936
a1577 G. Gascoigne Princelie Pleasures Kenelworth sig. B.viijv, in Whole Wks. (1587) Delight, and pleasures gallant shifts Haue fed your minde with many a Princely sport.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 25 Me thinckes that you smile at some pleasaunt shift.
1626 (title) The first and best parts of Scoggin's Iests: full of witty Mirth and pleasant Shifts.
d. Faculty of contrivance, resourcefulness. rare. Cf. shiftless adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > resourcefulness
shift1542
shifting1559
resource1788
shiftiness1839
resourcefulness1849
shiftfulness1866
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [noun]
i-witc888
anyitOE
understandinga1050
ferec1175
skillwisenessa1200
quaintisec1300
brainc1325
cunning1340
reder1340
cunningnessa1400
sentencec1400
intelligence?1435
speculation1471
ingeny1474
cunningheadc1475
capacity1485
pregnancyc1487
dexterity1527
pregnance?1533
shift1542
wittiness1543
ingeniousness1555
conceitedness1576
pate1598
conceit1604
ingeniosity1607
dexterousness1622
talent1622
ingenuousness1628
solertiousnessa1649
ingenuity1651
partedness1654
brightness1655
solerty1656
prettiness1674
long head1694
long lega1705
cleverness1755
smartness1800
cleverality1828
brain power1832
knowledgeability1834
braininess1876
cerebrality1901
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 106 And in Menander also..the housbandes reuile their wiues, calling theim, bliteas, of so small shifte or helpe, that thei wer as good to haue wiues of beetes.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 92 Hang them, say I, that has no Shift.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xv. v. 84 Friedrich's budget is a sore problem upon him; needing endless shift and ingenuity.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession > livelihood
lifeOE
foodOE
livelihoodc1300
livingc1330
ploughc1390
purchasec1475
daily bread1526
being1570
governing1572
shift1572
supportation1576
thrift1579
livelihead1590
thrive1592
breadwinnera1614
subsistence1644
gain1655
bread and butter1691
through-bearing1705
bread1719
bread ticket1801
daily1817
lifehood1823
rice bowl1853
crust1916
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (intransitive)] > work for one's living > honestly
to make an honest shift1798
1572 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. II. 133 Except thay have of thair awin, or sum honest and lauchfull schift quhairupoun to leif.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 116 The ȝoungest ar put to sum honest schift.
1798 D. Crawford Poems 57 Will ye compare me wi' a rogue, I always mak ane honest shift.
4. † b. alliterative phrases. Obsolete.
a. A fraudulent or evasive device, a stratagem; a piece of sophistry, an evasion, subterfuge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > [noun] > instance of
sophismc1350
fallacea1393
fallation1483
sophisticationa1492
fallax1530
fallacy1532
shift1545
elench1570
collusion1581
goose-trap1610
voidance1621
salvea1628
sophistry1673
wriggle1675
Jesuitism1749
special pleader1867
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [noun] > an evasion, subterfuge
evasionc1425
shift1545
subterfuge1563
tergiversation1570
amusement1603
shuffle1628
subterfugy1637
salvo1665
jank1705
fudge1797
shiffle-shufflea1871
1545 Act 37 Hen. VIII c. 9 §1 Concerninge Usury shiftes corrupt bargaynes and chevysaunces.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. f. 24 If the Papistes haue any shame, let them no more vse this shift [Fr. qu'ils n'vsent plus d'oresenauant de ces subterfuges] to say that images are lay mennes bokes.
a1596 Sir Thomas More (1911) 757 I conceiue your Lordship, and haue learnde your shift so well, that I must needes be apprehensiue.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. xi. 63 Now I must..dodge And palter in the shifts of lownes, who With halfe the bulke o' th' world plaid as I pleas'd, Making, and marring Fortunes. View more context for this quotation
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth ii. 18 This the Queene of Scots Delegates reiected as a friuolous shift.
1681 Arraignm.,Tryal & Condemnation S. Colledge 104 He is a man lives by his Shifts.
1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 207 How many subsist upon begging, borrowing, and other shifts.
1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 37 A nobleman, who was not to be put off with ministerial shifts.
1822 W. Hazlitt Table-talk (1869) 2nd Ser. xii. 253 Their whole life is a succession of shifts, excuses, and expedients.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. viii. 116 Ulysses, man of subtle shifts,..whither dost thou flee?
ΚΠ
1585 A. Bourcher in R. Edwards Paradyse Daintie Devises (new ed.) sig. D Got with shiftes, are spent with shame.
1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man ii. 106 Those goods that are gotten by shift, are for the most part, lost with shame.
1601 A. Munday Downfall Earle of Huntington sig. D3 v You..as yee liu'd by shifts, shall die with shame.
c. Shifty action.
ΚΠ
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey i. xii He did not miss the shift and blink in the manager's eyes.
5. † b. for (a) shift: as a makeshift; for want of something better. Obsolete.
a. An expedient necessitated by stress of circumstances; a forced measure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means > available means or a resource > a device, contrivance, or expedient > necessitated by stress of circumstances
shift1651
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxix. 168 Such dammage, or shifts, are all Common-wealths forced to.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. ii. 119 Cottington..being Chancellor of the Exchequer..had his hand in many hard shifts for Money.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 141. ⁋9 It were endless to recount the shifts to which I have been reduced.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 20 Being reduced to very extraordinary shifts for supplying the place of bread.
1823 W. Scott Peveril IV. ix. 212 Many of them had shared the wants, and shifts, and frolics of his exile.
1858 J. G. Holland Titcomb's Lett. i. 17 That pride of personal independence..that resorts to desperate shifts rather than incur an obligation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > exchange > substitution > [adverb] > as makeshift
for (a) shift1523
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > [phrase] > for want of something better
for (a) shift1523
1523 King Henry VIII in State Papers Henry VIII (1836) IV. 47 We suppose that many of your souldeours shalbe founden hable to stande in stede of gunners, metely well for a shyfte.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. iii. 80 Ha, no no faith, thou singst wel enough for a shift . View more context for this quotation
1683 in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) (1693) 17 629 For a shift, common or Sterling Silver will serve the turn.
c. by the shift: by way of makeshift; ‘at a pinch’ ( Eng. Dial. Dict.). So on a shift. Now dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > need or want > [adverb] > at a pinch
at (also in, on, upon) a pinch1489
by the shift1665
at (also on, upon) a stress1672
on a shift1842
at or upon a squeeze1892
1665 S. Pepys Diary 16 Nov. (1972) VI. 300 Had a good bedd by the shift of Wyndhams.
1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 127 Dinners made up on a shift of bread and cheese, and the like, are always the most expensive.
1897 Leeds Mercury Weekly Suppl. 29 May (E.D.D.) Ah can eyt a pund bi t'shift.
d. one's (or the) last (or †utter) shift: the last resource. to be at (†under) one's last shift(s: to be at the last extremity, in the greatest difficulty; so to put, drive, reduce, etc. to the last shifts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > a difficulty > point of greatest difficulty
knotc1386
one's (or the) last (or utter) shifta1604
hump1914
crunch1970
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > difficult state of things > most extreme predicament
one's (or the) last (or utter) shifta1604
last ditch1706
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in difficulty > reduce to straits
enstraita1500
plungea1513
to put or drive to a (or the) shift or shifts1553
to put (one) to (upon) his trump or trumps1559
to drive (a person) near1594
to put, drive, reduce, etc. to the last shiftsa1604
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
press1672
pinch1693
push1761
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means > available means or a resource > a device, contrivance, or expedient > ultimate
one's (or the) last (or utter) shifta1604
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > be in difficulties or straits > be in desperate difficulty
one's (or the) last (or utter) shift1733
beam-ends1773
hang1874
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 109 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) You see mee..now extremely driven to my utter shifts.
1638 in Hamilton Papers (1880) 15 The consideration of thes dangers, and not beeing abill longer to satisfie them with words draufe me to my last shifts.
1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 276 Whoever makes use of Chalk for a Dressing, I think, is under the last Shift.
1796 Ld. Nelson Let. 18 July in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 216 They are at their last shifts.
e. to put or drive (one) to one's shifts, to put or drive to a (or †the) shift or shifts (often with adjective as hard, miserable, etc.): to bring to extremity. †to leave (a person) to his shifts: to leave him to help himself.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in difficulty > reduce to straits
enstraita1500
plungea1513
to put or drive to a (or the) shift or shifts1553
to put (one) to (upon) his trump or trumps1559
to drive (a person) near1594
to put, drive, reduce, etc. to the last shiftsa1604
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
press1672
pinch1693
push1761
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. i. f. 4v He was driuen to so narrowe shifte, that to furnishe hym selfe of money, he became a Pyrat.
1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints ii. f. 15 Yee draue him to his shifts.
1589 R. Robinson Golden Mirrour sig. D Except that Tullie were thy name, Thy pen were put to shiftes.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 195 These knightes..were much driven to their shiftes, to get money for that journey.
1631 Earl of Manchester Contemplatio Mortis 58 Weake faith lookes for meanes, and is put to shifts when shee sees meanes faile.
1663 A. Cowley Of Solitude in Ess. in Verse & Prose ⁋3 (1906) 393 It is a deplorable condition, this, and drives a man sometimes to pittiful shifts in seeking how to avoid Himself.
1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 125 They are reduc'd to hard shifts, must grapple with poverty [etc.].
1700 S. L. tr. C. Schweitzer Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 328 He knew this to be the Elephant, that had put him so hard to his shifts.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 226 Many..who were put to hard shifts to live.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 78 The Gunner being thus driven to his Shifts, made down to the Shore.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals v. i The dear delicious shifts I used to be put to, to gain half a minute's conversation.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 173 Two or three bad harvests, a murrain, or a blight, for example might put you sadly to your shifts.
1842 G. S. Faber Provinc. Lett. (1844) I. 110 When gentlemen resort to such arguments, it shows that they must be sorely put to their shifts.
1849 Ainsworth's Mag. 16 524 A man likely to be put to the shift in these days would be a fool indeed to marry without it [money].
1856 T. B. Macaulay Goldsmith in Biogr. (1860) 60 He was still often reduced to pitiable shifts.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay i. 10 He was put to strange shifts to make out a living.
6. to make (a) shift.
a. To make efforts, bestir oneself, try all means. Now dialect. Also †to make busy, good, hard shift.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > try all means
to make busy, good, hard shifta1500
to move, roll, or turn every stone or all stonesc1555
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiii. 138 Bot yit I must make better shyft And it be right.
c1535 Ld. J. Butler in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. II. 51 But God willing I woll make bessye shifte to send the said mony in haste unto him.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 291 They made eache man the best shift for himselfe, that they could.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. ii. x. 50 Euerie man made shift for himselfe.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xvii. 411 And to come hither thence, I made hard shift.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iii. 57 I'd make a shift, and fend indoor and out, to give you more liberty.
1882 R. L. Stevenson Memories & Portraits (1887) xi. 175 What they have endured unbroken, we also..will make a shift to bear.
b. To attain one's end by contrivance or effort; to succeed; to manage to do something. †to make shift of: to manage to secure (some result).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > manage to secure (a result)
to make shift of1504
temporize1596
manage1654
to have (also get, want, etc.) a run for one's money1839
to pull off1860
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > succeed in doing anything
wina1300
covera1375
gaina1375
to prevail to1474
to make shift of1504
attain1523
obtaina1529
frame1545
procure1559
to finish to1594
succeed1839
1504 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 184 I have sent it you with John Walker at this tyme; the which I shall shew you how I mayd schift of, at your comminge.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia i. 87 A Ship vnrig'd Can make no shift to combat with the Sea.
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. F If I could meete my enemies one by one thus, I might make pretty shift with 'em in time.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia ix. 128 The Horse..made the best shift of all.
1895 ‘Q’ Wandering Heath 8 He made shift pretty well till he got to Lowland, and then had to drop upon his hands and knees and crawl.
c. To succeed with difficulty, to manage with effort to do something. So †to make a hard shift.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > have difficulty > do something with great difficulty
to make (a) shift1538
to make pottage of a flintc1576
to get (also wring) water from a flint1597
to make a hard shift1639
1538 in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monast. (1843) 194 Thei war not abill to make schiffte to paye for my costis.
1627–8 W. Laud Diary 5 Feb.–17 Mar. I made a shift to go and christen my Lord Duke's son.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. iii. 171 Sixty yeares almost did the Latines make a hard shift to hold Constantinople.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xi. 136 Most of the Foot made a shift to conceal themselves.
1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 77. ⁋5 I..can make a shift to command my Attention at a Puppet-Show or an Opera.
1752 H. Fielding Amelia II. iv. ii. 17 Booth made a shift to support his lovely Burthen.
1832 H. Martineau Ireland i. 13 Every year less and less came up, and that which did make a shift to grow yielded less and less meal.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. xi. 187 When she first came here she could speak no English; now she can make shift to talk it a little.
d. To do one's best with (inferior means), to be content with, put up with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse to [verb (transitive)] > make do with
to make (a) shift1577
to make the best of1692
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 32 The bread is very drye..but the common people remediyng that with Larde or Oyle, doo make a shift with it as wel as they can.
1631 B. Jonson New Inne ii. i. 5 Thou must make shift with it. Pride feeles no pain.
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xi. 202 Turners seldom use them, but make shift with either of the other [tools].
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 33 When they have no Spoons, they make an easie shift without them.
1733 J. Swift Let to Mrs. Cæsar 30 July I cannot make shift nor bear fatigue as I used to do.
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 319 The Press-Stone should be marble, though sometimes Master Printers make shift with purbeck.
1842 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. V. 71 Act then as persons who are in a dwelling not their own;..who accordingly, make shift and put up with any thing that comes to hand.
1885 Bookseller July 650/2 We cannot afford to employ..efficient assistants but have to make shift with cheap labour.
IV. Change, substitution, succession.† 7. Change or substitution of one thing for another of the same kind. Obsolete.† 8. † b. A set or suit (of sails, scenes). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > exchange > substitution > [noun]
changec1325
substitution1572
shift1573
quid pro quo1580
counterchange1589
supposing1591
subrogation1596
commutation1597
suffection1612
surrogationa1638
supplying1643
changeover1918
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 36v Poore cattle craue, some shift to haue.
1625 Wotton Let. to N. Pey in L. P. Smith Life & Lett. Sir H. Wotton (1907) II. 288 My going to Oxford was not merely for shift of air.
a. A plurality of things of the same kind that are or may be used successively. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > group > set of things to be used or made together > to be used successively
shift1562
1562 W. Bullein Bk. Simples f. 30, in Bulwarke of Defence Let bothe Pease and Beanes bee..tenderly sodden, in shifte of waters, before you doe eate theim.
1567–9 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (1611) 633 It is fit for a Pope to haue shift of mindes.
1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. E2 He had shift of lodgings, where in euery place his Hostesse writ vp the wofull remembrance of him.
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iii. i. sig. Hiiv Hee hath shift of names Sir: some call him Apple Iohn, some Signior Whiffe. View more context for this quotation
1611 Second Maiden's Trag. (1909) ii. ii. 30 She has her shifte of frendes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > group > set of things to be used or made together
gang?1340
pair1351
suit1424
nest1467
cast1535
set1561
stander1578
shift1592
casea1616
set-out1806
1592 Testimoniall 2 June in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1600) III. 845 Being prouided onely of one shift of sailes all worne.
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 17 A shift of sayles.
1754 A. Drummond Travels i. 15 They had three or four shifts of very good scenes.
9. † b. A player's dressing-room in a theatre.
a. Change (of clothing); concrete one of several suits of clothing, or of several garments of the same kind belonging to one person. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > change of
shiftc1570
shifting1631
shiftening1676
shifting clothes1885
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > other
disguise1340
disguisingc1386
shiftc1570
French cut1606
knaverya1616
small clothes1625
small storesa1643
nugging-dress1699
kilting1721
fancy dress1770
under-habit1772
man-millinery1790
sheen1802
costume1818
ingubu1833
bedizenment1837
tat1839
extravaganza1860
rational dress1873
rubber1876
pearly1890
new look1920
collection1921
Daks1933
smart casual1943
separates1945
trapeze1958
Carnaby Street1965
haute boutique1966
kinderwhore1994
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > set or suit of clothes > [noun] > other
shiftc1570
under-suita1586
doublet and hose1603
siropa1671
frock-clothes1769
costume1797
poncho dress1811
tongs1845
Eton suit1859
sailor's suit1869
Prince Albert1873
Norfolk suit1880
sailor suit1880
ready-made1882
Etons1888
buster suit1903
Mallaby-Deeley1920
tiddly suit1943
utility1945
shell suit1973
Mao suit1993
gansey2009
c1570 W. Wager Longer thou Livest (Brandl) 1104 Of rayment he shall haue shiftes twentie.
1578 G. Best True Disc. Passage to Cathaya iii. 28 He that hadde fiue or sixe shifts of apparell, hadde scarce one drie threede to his backe.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 13 Some passengers of the ship, who had no great store of linnen for shift, desired leave to go ashoare.
1833 Sel. Comm. Cinque-port Pilots 11 The men have not a shift of clothes.
1879 in G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk.
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > other parts of theatre > [noun] > dressing room
tiring-house1600
tiring-room1623
attiring-house1656
shift1667
tire-room1681
tiring-placea1684
tire-housea1699
shifting-room1740
tiring-chamber1860
1667 S. Pepys Diary 5 Oct. (1974) VIII. 463 She took us up..to the women's Shift, where Nell was dressing herself.
1702 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical (ed. 2) iv. 51 If She goes to her Shift, 'tis Ten to One but he follows her.
10.
a. A body-garment of linen, cotton, or the like; in early use applied indifferently to men's and women's underclothing; subsequently, a woman's ‘smock’ or chemise. Now chiefly North American.In the 17th cent. smock began to be displaced by shift as a more ‘delicate’ expression; in the 19th cent. the latter, from the same motive, gave place to chemise.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun] > vest or undershirt
chemiseeOE
sarkOE
shirtOE
wyliecoat1478
semmitc1485
commission1567
shift1601
undershirt1648
mish1667
subucula1695
linder1768
surcoat1768
smish1807
under-vest1813
flesh-bag1819
under-tunic1819
vest1851
underfug1924
skivvy1932
wife-beater1993
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun] > vest or undershirt > for women
chemiseeOE
smocka1000
simar1636
smicketc1685
shift1712
shimmy1837
vestee1963
1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. i. sig. B3 I haue knowne some of them, that haue..at length bene glad for a shift, (though no cleane shift) to lye a whole winter, in halfe a sheete. View more context for this quotation
1648 T. Winyard Midsummer-moone 4 Is the University Pim'd, and therefore must change shifts, or are men turnd out..for being scabby?
1691 A. Gavin Frauds Romish Monks 96 They are stript stark Naked in another [room], without suffering them so much as to keep on their Shifts.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 367. ¶5 A Lady's Shift may be metamorphosed into Billet-doux.
1756 F. Brooke Old Maid No. 34. 204 But remember that Julia and Rosara..fail not to bring with them checqu'd shifts to appear in at church.
1828 M. R. Mitford Our Village III. 114 Work was lost—even the new shifts of the Vicar's lady.
1853 C. Kingsley Hypatia I. x. 211 A..negress, dressed in true negro fashion, in a snow-white cotton shift, a scarlet cotton petticoat, and a bright yellow turban.
1890 A. C. Swinburne Stud. Prose & Poetry (1894) 216 A handsome girl, who was swimming, clothed with a white shift and a short petticoat.
1927 M. de la Roche Jalna xix. 250 He pictured her in a fine embroidered shift, curled softly beneath the silk eiderdown.
1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris 177 The flowers you know are all there, in their shifts and with their hair combed out for the night.
1936 M. de la Roche Whiteoak Harvest xxii. 301 She is such a slack creature that I dare say the poor child doesn't own a clean shift.
b. A straight loose dress.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > dress, robe, or gown > types of > hanging straight from shoulders
chemise1785
tube dress1948
shift1957
shift dress1966
1957 M. B. Picken Fashion Dict. 293/1 Shift,..loose dress hanging straight from shoulders, with fulness closely belted at waistline.
1965 H. L. Brockman Theory of Fashion Design v. 95/2 The shift automatically lengthens the figure at the expense of widening it at the waistline.
1975 D. Lodge Changing Places v. 177 Girls in kaftans, saris, skinny sweaters, bloomers, shifts, muu-muus.
11. Each of the successive crops in a course of rotation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > crop or crops > [noun] > crop in rotation
shift1787
rotation grass1864
1787 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Norfolk I. 131 An East-Norfolk farmer divides his farm into what he calls ‘six shifts’, to receive his principal crops in rotation.
1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. i. Add. 19 By the frequent ploughings given to the turnip break or shift, the land is made perfectly clean.
1815 Wks. of Alexander Pennecuik 92 (note) The adoption in this country of the common course of four shifts, before pasture.
1880 C. M. Mason Forty Shires 222 Sometimes a four-shift, sometimes a five-shift rotation is employed.
12. in extended use.1860 S. Smiles Self-help (new ed.) i. 17 These men..have often, during the busy season of Parliament, worked ‘double shift’, almost day and night.
a. A relay or change of workmen or †of horses.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport by relays of horses or vehicles > [noun] > a relay or change of horses
relay1613
shift1708
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > [noun] > gang of > relieving another
spell1593
shift1879
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 12 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) [The] Pit will require..4 shifts of Horses..and indeed you shou'd have a spare Shift, or two Horses more ready.
1812 J. Hodgson in J. Raine Mem. J. Hodgson (1857) I. 97 Two shifts or sets of men were constantly employed.
1879 Print. Trades Jrnl. xxix. 9 Working day and night with separate shifts of workmen.
1884 Manch. Examiner 22 Feb. 5/2 He would have in all mines which are worked on the double-shift system a fresh examination of the workings..before the second shift goes down.
1912 Sphere 28 Dec. 326/1 The night shifts receive so much higher pay for their labour.
b. The length of time during which such a set of men work.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > times or periods of work > [noun] > spell of work or duty
trick1669
time1696
stem1778
turn1793
tour of duty1800
spell1804
shift1809
steek1889
go-in1890
steek1895
stag1931
wink1937
1809 T. Donaldson Poems 132 Like miners, faith, we'll try a shift, An' work by turns.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 329 It is usual..to divide the men into two classes, one class to relieve the other every 12 hours: these periods are called shifts.
1849 G. C. Greenwell Gloss. Terms Coal Trade Northumberland & Durham 47 The payment for off-hand work.., is 3s. per shift of 8 hours.
1862 S. Smiles Lives Engineers III. 25 They worked together for about two years, by twelve-hour shifts.
1913 Times 14 May 8/1 An eight hours day, with a standard rate of 5s. a shift.
c. A quantity (of ore) removed at a time.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > ore > [noun] > quantity of
serving1778
parcel1824
shift1839
panel1858
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 752 The richness of the ore varies from 2 to 20 bings of galena per shift of ore; the shift corresponding to 8 waggons load.
13. A change (of wind).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > wind with reference to direction > change of direction
shift1594
wind shear1951
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises vii. xxxi. f. 330v At euery shift of winde.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. iv. ii. 144 Well experienced in Judgment, in estimating the Ship's Way in her Course upon every shift of Wind.
1784 Ann. Reg. 1782 Hist. Europe 91/1 The season was far advanced for military operations, the shift of the monsoon being at hand.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 288 The Dundee of London..was suddenly stopped by a shift of wind.
1876 R. H. Scott Weather Charts 72 In every case it will be seen that the shift from 1 to 3 is veering, and from 1′ to 3′ is backing, whatever the first direction of the wind may have been.
V. Change of position, removal.
14.
a. A shifting, removal; a change of position or attitude; dialect a change of residence or employment. to get a shift on (colloquial), to get a move on (see move n. 3f).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > [noun] > a movement
charec1325
stirring1340
mudge1808
move1827
jee1829
shift1831
the world > time > change > [noun] > of position or attitude
turning1340
metabasis1550
shift1831
reorientation1888
conversion1893
relance1960
society > inhabiting and dwelling > [noun] > change of residence
flittingc1175
removinga1425
remove1555
removal1605
motion1634
flit1835
move1853
shift1871
locomutationa1884
society > occupation and work > working > career > [noun] > change of employment
shift1871
1831 A. Sedgwick in Trans. Geol. Soc. (1836) 2nd Ser. 4 53 If there be any shift of position among the mineral masses in their strike across the valley, it must be of comparatively small extent.
1858 G. Glenny Gardener's Every-day Bk. (new ed.) 233/2 Examine every plant as it comes in, to see if the drainage be clear, and whether it wants a shift.
1867 A. C. Swinburne in Fortn. Rev. Oct. 427 A suffering which runs always in one groove, without relief or shift.
1871 J. W. Carlyle in Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 194 A small furnished house should be rented, and a shift made thither.
1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands vi. 66 ‘What rot, girls; why don't yer get er shift on?’ cried Feathers virtuously... ‘'Taint ther mealy pertater, polin' on the firm like this.’
1977 Times Educ. Suppl. 21 Oct. 9/2 We could have started certainly a year earlier, even two years earlier if we had got a shift on.
b. in immaterial sense, e.g. a shifting or transfer of responsibility, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > [noun] > handing over or giving up to another
liverya1325
liverancec1390
deliverancea1400
teachinga1400
overgiving1465
delivery1480
render1548
consignation1612
delivering1642
shift1826
handover1847
driveaway1917
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > change of direction, reversion > [noun] > change to other or former condition
re-entry1599
reaction1792
shift1826
reversal1862
swing-back1862
flop1880
revert1895
throwback1923
swing-over1927
U-turn1929
right turn1940
swing-round1940
turnaround1941
turn-round1963
U-ey1976
switch-around1981
1826 E. Irving Babylon II. v. 31 There can be no shift in policy or in power, much less a revolution in them,..with-out a terrible struggle.
1844 Min. Evid. Sel. Comm. Commons Inclosure 27 Many of these commonable meadows have their own peculiar customs as to the shift of the severalty ownership.
c. Physics. A displacement of a spectral line from the expected position or from some reference position; hence, a change of an energy level in an atom, molecule, etc.; chemical shift, in nuclear magnetic resonance or Mössbauer spectroscopy, the position of a resonance in the spectrum measured relative to some standard signal, the separation being characteristic of the chemical environment of the resonating nucleus. See also redshift n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > lines reflecting energy levels > displacement from expected position
shift1884
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > study of spectra > types of spectrometry or spectroscopy > [noun] > Mössbauer spectroscopy > feature of
chemical shift1952
Mössbauer effect1960
1884 London, Edinb. & Dublin Philos. Mag. 5th Ser. 18 161 A shift of the lines towards the more refrangible side of the spectrum.
1897 Astrophysical Jrnl. 5 210 Here is certainly a vera causa for some shift towards the red in molecules causing light.
1932 Physical Rev. 42 350 The direction of the shift is again such that Hg204 has the highest energy.
1945 R. A. Sawyer Exper. Spectrosc. v. 118 Changes in temperature and pressure may lead to serious difficulties in prism spectrographs through broadening and shifts of spectral lines.
1952 Physical Rev. 88 1070/1 A shift in the nuclear resonance, known as the chemical shift, is due to the effects of diamagnetism and induced paramagnetism in a molecule.
1961 A. D. Thackeray Astron. Spectrosc. xiii. 186 Interpreted as a radial velocity this shift implies that the nebula in question is running away from us at a speed of slightly over 60,000 km/sec.
1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) VIII. 600a/1 Chemists have become interested in using the Mössbauer effect because of the isomer shift (also called isomeric or chemical shift); this results from the interaction of the electron density..at the nucleus with the nuclear charge.
1970 G. K. Woodgate Elem. Atomic Struct. viii. 154 Since the perturbing states of opposite parity lie a long way away,..one expects the Stark shift of the ground state to be small.
1978 P. W. Atkins Physical Chem. xix. 625 The two methylene protons are in a different part of the molecule; they therefore have a different chemical shift, and come into resonance at another magnetic field.
d. Philology. A phonetic change. See also accent shift n., consonant shift n., sound-shift n., stress-shift n., vowel shift n., under the first elements.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > sound changes > [noun]
shift1894
sound-shift1911
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth of Lang. iv. 54 There has been no general shift of the place of the accent as compared with Latin.]
1894 O. F. Emerson Hist. Eng. Lang. xiv. 241 The shift from voiceless to voiced in certain positions has taken place since Teutonic times.
1909 O. Jespersen Mod. Eng. Gram. (1949) I. viii. 231 In most cases the spelling had become fixed before the shift, which..is one of the chief reasons of the divergence between spelling and sound in English... The shift may be represented graphically.
1934 R. C. Priebsch & W. E. Collinson German Lang. ii. i. 86 A clean cut was made between those dialects which underwent the shift and those which remained unaffected.
1934 R. C. Priebsch & W. E. Collinson German Lang. ii. i. 88 The shift from stop to spirant was carried out over the whole High German area.
e. Bell-ringing. (See quot.)
ΚΠ
1901 H. E. Bulwer Gloss. Techn. Terms Church Bells 40 Shift, an accidental, but fatal, fault in ‘change-ringing’ caused by two bells becoming displaced in the ‘coursing order’, or changing places. (The expressions ‘change-course’ and ‘shift-course’ mean the same thing as ‘shift’, but the latter is preferable. ‘Twisted’ is a synonym for ‘shifted]..
f. A change of gear in a motor vehicle. North American.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > [noun] > driving or operating a motor vehicle > operating clutch or gears
change1895
downchange1907
gear-changing1909
change-down1910
gear-change1912
change up1913
shift1915
declutching1925
slipping1925
upshift1951
double-clutching1954
upshifting1956
1915 V. W. Pagé Questions & Answers (rev. ed.) xxvii. 446 The clutch must be disengaged before a shift can be made.
1947 R. F. Kuns in Kuns & Plumridge Automotive Fundamentals: Chassis & Power Transmission 164 The overdrive shift is made automatically, by simply lifting the foot from the accelerator for about 1½ seconds.
g. Chemistry. A migration of an atom or group, or of electrons, from one point in a molecule to another, or occasionally between molecules, in a chemical reaction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions (general) > migration of atom, group, or electrons in reaction
shift1932
autoprotolysis1934
1932 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 54 3278 The shift of the electron pair includes the atom or group which it holds.
1947 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 69 290/2 On the other hand, the hydrogen atom with its pair of electrons might be transferred by an inter rather than an intra molecular shift.
1953 C. K. Ingold Struct. & Mech. Org. Chem. ix. 482 Other rearrangements involve only the shift of a methyl group to an adjoining position.
1968 R. O. C. Norman Princ. Org. Synthesis xiv. 435 A typical example of a hydride shift occurs in the reaction of a primary aliphatic amine with nitrous acid; e.g. n-propylamine gives iso~propanol, together with propylene, and only a trace of n-propanol.
1975 C. J. Collins in R. F. Brown Org. Chem. xvi. 535b Prior to our explanation it was commonly held that all 1,2-shifts—for example, of hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl during Wagner–Meerwein, pinacol, Demjanov rearrangements and the like—took place with inversion of configuration at the migration terminus.
h. Computing. The movement of the digits of a word in a register one or more places to left or right, equivalent to multiplying or dividing the corresponding number by a power of whatever number is the base.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > [noun] > primary storage or main memory > register > operation on
shift1946
arithmetic shift1963
1946 Ann. Computation Lab. Harvard Univ. 1 73 The first molding is..used for reset and the second to read out the tens digit of the amount of shift in conjunction with the proper molding of the first column... The shift is counted to the right.
1966 IFIP–ICC Vocab. of Information Processing 70 Digits shifted beyond the end of the word or register may simply be dropped, or in a cyclic shift (or end-around shift) they may be returned to the opposite end of the word or register in a circular fashion.
1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing v. 80 Sometimes it is necessary to analyze the individual characters of a word. The computer can do this by means of shift instructions. These are instructions for left shift and right shift.
15.
a. Music. In violin-playing, a change of the position of the hand on the finger-board.When the first or ordinary position is quitted, the player is said to be ‘on the shift’; the second position is called the ‘half shift’, the third the ‘whole shift’, and the fourth the ‘double shift’. (Grove Dict. Music s.v.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > [noun] > position of left hand > change of
shift1771
1771 Burney tr. Tartini in G. Hart Violin (1875) 342 The taking a Violin part..and playing it upon the half-shift, that is, with the first finger upon G on the first string, and constantly keeping upon this shift.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet I. x. 211 I..skipped with flying fingers, like Timotheus, from shift to shift.
1884 W. Hoe Dict. Fiddle
b. Pianoforte. The mechanism for or act of shifting the keyboard action by means of the soft pedal.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > pianoforte > other parts, etc.
ogee front1815
sticker1822
fall1823
string-plate1827
piano leg1852
polychord1858
agraffe1860
mopstick1870
music rest1874
check-bara1877
hammer-action1885
escapement1896
set-off1896
set-off button1896
shift1896
shifting keyboard1896
1896 A. J. Hipkins Descr. & Hist. Pianoforte 41 Unless these are directly opposite the strings by a decided shift or return, a snarling quality of tone will be heard.
1896 A. J. Hipkins Descr. & Hist. Pianoforte 41 Up to about 1830 there was a further shift permissible to one string only, the Una Corda of Beethoven.
1944 W. Apel Harvard Dict. Music 778/2 Beethoven..not only calls for a gradation in three steps..but even for a gradual execution of the shift: poco a poco due corde.
16. Shipbuilding. (See quots.)
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > shipbuilding > methods of joining timbers > disposition of buts
shift1805
1805 Shipwright's Vade-mecum 131 Shift, a term applied to disposing the butts of the planks, &c. so that they may over launch each other without reducing the length... The planks of the bottom, in British-built ships of war, have a six-feet shift with three planks between each butt... In the bottoms of merchant ships they have a six-feet shift with only two planks between each butt.
1805 Shipwright's Vade-mecum 234 The scarphs give shift to the scarphs of the keel and fasten thereto with treenails.
c1840 Encycl. Brit. XX. 275/2 Shift. This, in its general sense, refers to a certain arrangement among the component parts of a ship. Thus we speak of a shift of plank, a shift of dead-wood, meaning thereby the disposition of the buts of the timber or plank, both with respect to strength and economy. In a more limited sense, ‘shift’ means the distance apart of two neighbouring buts or scarphs.
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 154 String, one or two planks.., giving shift to the scarphs of the sheer-strake.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk.
1889 J. J. Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. viii. 103 The proper shift of the butts [of the plates] is a question of importance.
17. Mining. A slight ‘fault’ or dislocation in a seam or stratum.
ΚΠ
1802 J. Playfair Illustr. Huttonian Theory 48 Of this nature are the slips or shifts, that so often perplex the miner in his subterraneous journey.
1830 T. Carlyle Richter Again in Misc. (1840) II. 324 What miners call a shift or trouble occurred in it.
1830 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 418 Along the line of this shift, or ‘fault’ as it would be termed technically by miners, the walls were found to adhere firmly to each other.
1909 Q. Rev. Apr. 490 The shift or throw as in the Irwell Valley fault near Manchester.
18. Something which effects a shift.
a. A mechanism for changing gear in a motor vehicle; a gear-lever. Cf. gear-shift n. at gear n. Compounds 2. North American.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > lever or mechanism for changing gear
gear-lever1904
shifter1910
gear-change1912
shift1914
gear stick1920
shift-lever1920
gear-shift1926
stick1952
shift-stick1968
1914 Automobile 9 Apr. 771/2 (advt.) New electric shift.
1926 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby vii. 144 ‘Shall we all go in my car?’ suggested Gatsby... ‘Is it standard shift?’ demanded Tom.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. 26/1 (advt.) Mercury Parklane Marauder…radio, bucket seats, floor shift.
1978 J. Irving World according to Garp xii. 224 The gear knob of the Volvo's stick shift came off in her hand.
b. = shift-key n. at Compounds 2 below.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > typing > typewriter > [noun] > set of keys > specific keys
shift-key1893
backspace key1899
backspacer1901
home key1910
margin-release key1913
shift1919
backspace1944
1919 H. Etheridge Dict. Typewriting 208 It is usual to provide duplicate keys on each side of the keyboard, so that the shift may be operated with either hand.
1936 A. Dvorak et al. Typewriting Behavior x. 260 Really you strike the shift just a tiny fraction of a second before you strike the capital letter.
1957 A. C. Lloyd et al. Gregg Typewriting for Colleges 10 A-finger reaches over, to Shift.
c. = shift code n. at Compounds 2 below.
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society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > character level codes > escape code
shift1957
escape character1962
shift character1967
shift code1967
shift-terminator1967
escape code1969
escape sequence1975
1957 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 886/2 With such a code [as the Baudot code] it is possible to obtain 32 different combinations, 26 of which are assigned to letters of the alphabet, leaving 1 for the idle condition, and 5 for functions such as space, figure shift, letter shift, etc.
1972 Computers & Humanities 6 149 The tape punch would consequently have fewer possibilities than the card punch, if this number of 44 were not doubled by a shift giving an extra punch code to change from lower to upper case, or from upper to lower case.
1980 L. Moore Foundations Programming with Pascal ii. 38 The 5-bit code commonly used by Creed teleprinters had two shift-codes, a ‘letter shift’ and a ‘figure shift’. Each of the remaining thirty codes was mapped to two characters, one belonging to the ‘letter’ set and the other to the ‘figure’ set.
19. Telegraphy and Computing. A change from one set of characters to another; also, a set of characters indicated by any particular shift code.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telegraphy > [noun] > telegraphic message > code > change of character set or code
shift1913
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telegraphy > [noun] > telegraphic message > code > change of character set or code > indicator of
shift1913
shift character1967
society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > character level codes > escape code > result produced by
shift1967
1913 H. W. Pendry Baudôt Printing Telegraph Syst. 2 He adapts therein several elements of the earlier Hughes system—namely, the type-wheel and printing arrangement as well as a similar figure shift device.
1928 A. Williams Telegr. & Teleph. ii. 33 The possible number of permutations is thirty-one, but each of these can be made to signify either of two characters by a ‘shift’ at the receiving end corresponding to the shift key of an ordinary typewriter.
1960 M. G. Say et al. Analogue & Digital Computers ix. 265 Such an arrangement is very appropriate in telegraphy, where changes from one shift to the other are not common.
1967 D. G. Hays Introd. Computational Linguistics iv. 75 Some of the shifts are capitalization, boldface, superscript, and large. Most alphabets require shifts and diacritics.
1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing ii. 41 We say that the characters are in two shifts, a letter shift and digit shift, in the same way as the characters on a typewriter are in two shifts or cases.
1971 T. C. Collocott Dict. Sci. & Technol. 1064/1 In teleprinters, one shift is capital letters, the other figures and special signs.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. (In sense 12.)
shift-boss n.
ΚΠ
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 166 Foremen, per day..Shift-bosses, per day.
1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 174 Shift-boss, the foreman in charge of a shift of men.
shift-man n.
ΚΠ
1880 Daily News 10 Sept. 6/1 A survivor (..a shiftman) gives the following narrative.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Shifter, Shift-man, a man who prepares the working places at night in a colliery for the men who come in at next shift.
shift-work n.
ΚΠ
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 13 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) It is most usual to agree with your Hewers of Coals or Miners, by the Score of Corves,..and not by the Day, or Shift Work.
1888 W. E. Nicholson Gloss. Terms Coal Trade (E.D.D.).
shift-worker n.
ΚΠ
1942 T. K. Djang Factory Inspection in Great Brit. vii. 142 The Home Secretary may require certain conditions for the safe-guarding of shift workers.
1977 Home Office: Rep. Comm. Future of Broadcasting iii. 23 in Parl. Papers 1976–7 (Cmnd. 6753) VI. 1 Shift workers wanting more entertainment during off-peak hours.
shift-working n.
ΚΠ
1937 M. L. Yates Wages & Labour Conditions in Brit. Engin. iv. 54 Shift-working was the subject of a separate Agreement between the Employers' Federation and the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1920.
1963 Times 6 May (Suppl. Electr. Power Brit.) p. iii/7 Because our tempo of life is geared to what we regard as orthodox hours, shift working is a burden and now disrupts family life.
b. (In sense 10.)
shift-sleeve n.
ΚΠ
1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 175. ⁋2 She came in Shift-Sleeves, and dress'd at the Window.
shift-strap n.
ΚΠ
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. x. [Wandering Rocks] 216 A white petticoatbodice and taut shiftstraps.
c. (In sense 4.)† shift-got n. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. iv. v. 39 The ding-thrift heyre, his shift-got summe mispent, Comes drouping like a pennylesse penitent.
d. (In sense 6.)
shiftmaker n.
ΚΠ
1836 E. Howard Rattlin lv The shifts we were obliged to have recourse to were..amusing, to all but the shiftmakers.
C2.
shift character n. Telegraphy and Computing a character in a code that indicates that subsequent characters are to be interpreted in terms of a different fount or coding scheme.
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society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > character level codes > escape code
shift1957
escape character1962
shift character1967
shift code1967
shift-terminator1967
escape code1969
escape sequence1975
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telegraphy > [noun] > telegraphic message > code > change of character set or code > indicator of
shift1913
shift character1967
1967 D. G. Hays Introd. Computational Linguistics iv. 75 But there are also 8 shift characters, that influence the style or position of following graphic characters, and a shift terminator.
1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing ii. 41 After the letter shift character in the teleprinter code, all the following characters are interpreted as belonging to the letter case until there is a digit shift character, and vice versa.
shift-course n. = sense 14e.
ΚΠ
1901 H. E. Bulwer Gloss. Techn. Terms Church Bells 40 Shift, an accidental, but fatal, fault in ‘change-ringing’ caused by two bells becoming displaced in the ‘coursing order’, or changing places. (The expressions ‘change-course’ and ‘shift-course’ mean the same thing as ‘shift’, but the latter is preferable. ‘Twisted’ is a synonym for ‘shifted]..
shift code n. = shift character n.
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society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > character level codes > escape code
shift1957
escape character1962
shift character1967
shift code1967
shift-terminator1967
escape code1969
escape sequence1975
1967 D. G. Hays Introd. Computational Linguistics iv. 70 When we read a shift code, we must remember what shift we are in until receiving another.
1972 Computers & Humanities 6 149 We get 44 characters which may be preceded by either the upper-case or the lower-case shift code.
1980Shift code [see sense 18c]. shift dress n. = sense 10b.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > dress, robe, or gown > types of > hanging straight from shoulders
chemise1785
tube dress1948
shift1957
shift dress1966
1966 Country Life 30 June 1761/2 Shift-dresses..in white, Ming-green, navy or camel.
1970 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Cookie Bird iii. 30 I was wearing a high-necked shift dress.
shift-joint n. in masonry and brickwork (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. s.v. Joint Shift-joint.
1882 W. J. Christy Pract. Treat. Joints 27 Shift Joint is a broken joint, or one that is not continued straight, but given a shift to one side to break joint.
shift-key n. a key for adjusting the mechanism in a typewriter when characters in a different position on the keys, such as capitals, are to be used.
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society > communication > printing > typing > typewriter > [noun] > set of keys > specific keys
shift-key1893
backspace key1899
backspacer1901
home key1910
margin-release key1913
shift1919
backspace1944
1893 Manual of Typewriter i. 15 When the machine in use is one with a single keyboard,—that is to say, one with a shift-key by the depression of which the upper-case characters are brought into play,—the shift-key should be governed by the little finger.
1904 Knowledge Feb. 18/2 A shift key serves to adjust the type-wheel either for letters or figures.
1920 R. T. Nicholson Mech. Devices Typewriter 32 Depression of the shift-key marked ‘Caps’, sets the platen in position for writing capitals, or ‘upper-case’ letters.
1940 M. Crooks Home Instruction Course in Touch Typewriting 56 You may like to note, whilst on the subject of the shift key, that there is an additional key—usually above one of the shift keys—called the ‘Shift Lock’.
1980 Daily Tel. 4 Nov. 13/4 Beth Porter as mehitabel (archie couldn't work the shift key) in the roach and the pussycat.
shift-lever n. North American a gear-lever in a motor vehicle.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > lever or mechanism for changing gear
gear-lever1904
shifter1910
gear-change1912
shift1914
gear stick1920
shift-lever1920
gear-shift1926
stick1952
shift-stick1968
1920 F. B. Scholl Automobile Owner's Guide 7 Place the shift-lever into the first-speed slot and let up on the clutch pedal.
1973 R. Hayes Hungarian Game xlvii. 286 When the engine turned over he jammed the shift lever into reverse and pressed the accelerator.
shift-lock n. a device for holding the shift-key of a typewriter continuously depressed; also attributive.
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society > communication > printing > typing > typewriter > [noun] > shift-lock
shift-lock1899
1899 J. Wardle Universal Typewriter Man. 21 Shift lock.—When it is desired to write a large number of capital letters or signs, the Cylinder may be brought forward by means of the Lock Handle, and this action will fasten the Cylinder in that position.
1907 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 1 Mar. 435/1 The shift-lock for capitals.
1920 R. T. Nicholson Mech. Devices Typewriter 33 The shift-lock is used whenever it is desired to hold a shift-key continuously depressed.
1936 M. Crooks Bk. of Remington Typewriter iii. 27 The action of the shift lock key is quite simple.
1977 E. Mackay Typewriting Dict. 195 The shift key should be depressed by the little finger... If a whole word, heading, sentence, etc., is required in capital letters, the typist should depress the shift lock, which ‘locks’ the typewriter mechanism.
shift register n. Computing a register specifically intended for subjecting data to a shift (sense 14h).
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society > computing and information technology > hardware > [noun] > primary storage or main memory > register
register1946
program register1948
shift register1950
index register1955
control register1956
1950 W. W. Stifler High-speed Computing Devices (Engin. Res. Associates) xiii. 299 A multiplier might be devised using the parallel adder and the shift register... The product accumulator is twice the length of the operand registers and is also a shift register.
1975 Nature 27 Mar. 366/3 A bubble device consists simply of an assembly of a number of integrated circuits each of which carries magnetically activated tracks, that is, shift registers, along which are driven patterns of bubbles and gaps representing binary data.
shift-round n. colloquial reallocation of positions, a move to another position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > [noun] > placing or being placed in different position > instance of
shuffle1674
shift-round1940
1940 J. Reith Diary 3 Apr. (1975) v. 244 Cabinet changes tonight..a weird shift-round.
a1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1975) I. 611 Thursday, the day of my shift-round.
shift-sign n. Phonetics (see quot. 1939).
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the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > [noun] > phonetic transcription > phonetic symbols
sheva1582
quantity mark1860
breathing1864
stress mark1881
rounder1888
polygraph1893
shadda1896
modifier1899
length-mark1926
shift-sign1939
agma1957
1939 B. Bloch in H. Kurath et al. Handbk. Linguistic Geogr. New England iv. 129 Shift Signs..In order to avoid the necessity of using special symbols for the innumerable shades of sound intermediate between any two of the vowels shown in the diagram.., the phonetic alphabet of the Linguistic Atlas provides shift signs in the form of small arrowheads, which are placed after a vowel symbol to indicate varieties heard as articulated in a higher, a lower, a more advanced or a more retracted position than the vowel denoted by the unmodified letter.
1970 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. 1968 l. 5 Shift signs, ∧ raised, ∨ lowered,..are used to show modification of the vowels.
shiftsman n. (see quot. 19211).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > coal-miner > other specific coal-mine workers
gates-mana1649
getter1688
coal washer1859
gasman1876
spragger?1881
stoneman1883
thin-miner1892
shotman1905
shiftsman1921
strapper1921
Bevin boy1944
pit yacker1961
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §044 Shifter, shiftman, shiftsman..; general terms for labourers assisting repairers, timberers, etc., in building stoppings and clearing falls of stone.
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §054 Shifter, shiftman, shiftsman,..works at night, when mine workers are absent, repairing road-ways, etc.
1924 Public Opinion 8 Feb. 127/1 Machinery shall be in charge of a competent shiftsman.
shift-stick n. colloquial a gear-lever in a motor vehicle.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > lever or mechanism for changing gear
gear-lever1904
shifter1910
gear-change1912
shift1914
gear stick1920
shift-lever1920
gear-shift1926
stick1952
shift-stick1968
1968 Autocar 14 Mar. 25/1 (advt.) Aussies have better things to do with their arms than glue them to a shift-stick.
1975 Publishers Weekly 17 Mar. 53/1 Even readers who don't know a shiftstick from a lollipop may find themselves caught up in the pace of this exciting inside-story of a veteran Indy 500 racing-car mechanic.
shift-terminator n. Computing a character introduced into a string of text to cancel the effect of a preceding shift code.
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society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > character level codes > escape code
shift1957
escape character1962
shift character1967
shift code1967
shift-terminator1967
escape code1969
escape sequence1975
1967Shift terminator [see shift character n.].
1967 D. G. Hays Introd. Computational Linguistics iv. 76 If a whole sentence is in italics, the italic-shift character occurs just once in continuous mode, with a shift terminator at the end.
shift valve n. a valve that moves to produce automatic gear-changes in a motor vehicle.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > transmission > automatic > valve effecting
shift valve1949
1949 Automotive Industries 1 May 68/3 The mechanism contains other forms of valves designed to perform automatic control functions. Among these are:..shift valve for direct drive, having a modulator valve at one end.
1955 W. H. Crouse Automotive Transmissions vii. 223 The throttle pressure is applied to the spring end of the shift valve.
1970 AA Bk. Car 110/3 A system of brake bands and clutches selected by hydraulic shift valves.
Draft additions 1993
A field or piece of land used in crop rotation. Chiefly Scottish.
ΚΠ
1838 W. Sewall Diary (1930) 197 Shucked out 5 rows of the 14 acre shift.
1936 C. Macdonald Echoes of Glen 91 The ‘shift’ was as little as one acre.
1969 Huntly Express 19 Sept. 2 He noticed something amiss near his tattie shift.
1980 D. K. Cameron Willie Gavin vi. 55 His rotation of crops in his humble shifts (the crofter's name for his small fields) adhered to the old order.
Draft additions 1993
Hence applied also to changes of grammatical function. Cf. rank shift n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic relations > [noun] > change of word order or position
trajectiona1613
transposition1727
transposal1866
shift1929
1929 I. A. Richards Pract. Crit. iii. i. 185 In conversation, perhaps, we get the clearest examples of these shifts of function, the normal verbal apparatus of one function being taken over by another.
1972 M. L. Samuels Linguistic Evol. iv. 67 Is it the prior shift of the old form to a new meaning..which creates the need for a new form?
1978 Language 54 119 This is evidenced in some syntactic rules, such as Dative Shift and Heavy-NP Shift.
Draft additions 1993
American Football. A change of position made immediately before a snap by two or more players of the team in possession of the ball.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > American football > [noun] > actions or manoeuvres
rush1857
punt-out1861
goal-kicking1871
safety1879
safety touchdown1879
scrimmage1880
rushing1882
safety touch1884
touchback1884
forward pass1890
run1890
blocking1891
signal1891
fake1893
onside kick1895
tandem-play1895
pass play1896
spiral1896
shift1901
end run1902
straight-arm1903
quarterback sneak1904
runback1905
roughing1906
Minnesota shift1910
quarterbacking1910
snap-back1910
pickoff1912
punt return1914
screen forward pass1915
screen pass1920
power play1921
sneak1921
passback1922
snap1922
defence1923
reverse1924
carry1927
lateral1927
stiff-arm1927
zone1927
zone defence1927
submarine charge1928
squib1929
block1931
pass rushing1933
safetying1933
trap play1933
end-around1934
straight-arming1934
trap1935
mousetrap1936
buttonhook1938
blitzing1940
hand-off1940
pitchout1946
slant1947
strike1947
draw play1948
shovel pass1948
bootleg1949
option1950
red dog1950
red-dogging1951
rollout1951
submarine1952
sleeper pass1954
draw1956
bomb1960
swing pass1960
pass rush1962
blitz1963
spearing1964
onsides kick1965
takeaway1967
quarterback sack1968
smash-mouth1968
veer1968
turn-over1969
bump-and-run1970
scramble1971
sack1972
nose tackle1975
nickel1979
pressure1981
1901 W. Camp in Outing 39 219/2 The wing-shift had its novelty but it was fatal to the Indians in New Haven last season.
1910 Minneapolis Tribune 30 Oct. (Sporting section) 1/5 The Minnesota offense with the shift plays and the fake forward passes proved confusing to the Chicago defense.
1925 K. K. Rockne Coaching viii. 76 If they did not come to a distinct pause and started their charge all over again, I believe the line shift lost most of its value, as there is not much deception in a line shift.
1957 Encycl. Brit. IX. 478/2 In the first few years after World War I Notre Dame relied a good deal on the line shift, but Rockne dropped this when the rule makers removed all advantage from the shift by requiring a full halt between the final jump and the snap of the ball, robbing the play of its momentum.
1987 Touchdown Feb. 16/1 But the play was called back for one of pro football's less-frequent infringements, an illegal shift.
Draft additions March 2022
slang. Originally: sexual intercourse; an act or instance of this. Now chiefly (Irish English): kissing; sexual activity which stops short of intercourse; often in to get the shift. Cf. shift v. Additions.In early use frequently with punning allusion to other senses, esp. 6 and 10.
ΚΠ
1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding i. ii, in Comedies & Trag. 79 Prithee what haste, Secret? that I should put my self to bed with one I might make a shift with.
1739 Joe Miller's Jests §204 A young Gentlewoman who had married a very wild Spark..was innocently saying to him one Day, My Dear, I want some Shifts sadly. Shifts, Madam, replies he, D—me, how can that be, when we make so many every Day?
1833 ‘Job Halls’ & ‘Mike Hunt’ Lummy Chaunter 83 Job was put to the shift, yet never despair'd, For I always stand to, he often declar'd.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. 641 Young Stephen said indeed to his best remembrance they had but the one doxy between them and she of the stews to make shift with in delights amorous.
2020 @Danielobo148 5 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 25 Feb. 2021) I wish Covid was a thing when I was in the early years of Secondary School, at least then I wouldn't have had to lie about getting the shift.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
shiftv.
/ʃɪft/, U.S. /ʃɪft/ I. To put in order, arrange.† 1. transitive. To appoint, ordain, arrange, assign, dispose in order. Obsolete.absolute.c1330 Arth. & Merl. 2194 King Ban hadde..þe cite of Beuoit & Bohort hadde þe cite of Gaines..& þus þai hadde schift atvo.† 3. to shift one's hand, to shift one's words: to act or speak in a particular manner. Also reflexive. Obsolete.† 4. † b. ? To bestir oneself. Obsolete.† c. to shift in the world, also quasi-trans. to shift the world: to face the chances of life. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > ordain, prescribe, or appoint
asetc885
teachc897
deemc900
ashapea1000
i-demeOE
setc1000
shiftc1000
stevenOE
redeOE
willOE
lookc1175
showc1175
stablea1300
devise1303
terminea1325
shapec1330
stightlea1375
determinec1384
judgea1387
sign1389
assize1393
statute1397
commanda1400
decree1399
yarka1400
writec1405
decreetc1425
rule1447
stallc1460
constitute1481
assignc1485
institute1485
prescribec1487
constitue1489
destinate1490
to lay down1493
make?a1513
call1523
plant1529
allot1532
stint1533
determ1535
appointa1538
destinec1540
prescrive1552
lot1560
fore-appoint1561
nominate1564
to set down1576
refer1590
sort1592
doom1594
fit1600
dictate1606
determinate1636
inordera1641
state1647
fix1660
direct1816
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > arrange [verb (transitive)]
stightc825
fadec1020
orderc1225
adightc1275
dightc1275
castc1320
raila1350
form1362
stightlea1375
rayc1380
informa1382
disposea1387
throwc1390
addressa1393
shifta1400
rengea1425
to set forth?c1450
rule1488
rummage1544
marshalc1547
place1548
suit1552
dispone1558
plat1587
enrange1590
draw1663
range1711
arrange1791
to lay out1848
c1000 Secular Laws Edgar §7 (Liebermann) 204/3 Scifte [v.rr. sceawie, sceapige] man of ðam gemote ða ðe him toridan.
a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xxxvii. 176 Moyses..be godes agenum dihte rihte lage scyfte.
a1122 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1046 Þa scyfte man Harold [read Beorn] eorl up þæs cynges scipe þe Harold eorl ær steorde.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 470 Forr prestess þanne. & dæcness ec. Shifftedenn hemm bitwenenn. Whillc here shollde serrfenn firrst.
c1386 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 278 Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte, To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte Corones two of floures.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 323 For thou benymst me thilke yifte, Which lith noght in thi miht to schifte.
a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 6714 Þe messagers aȝein he shiftes.
a1400 Morte Arth. 2456 Thane the schalkes scharpelye scheftys theire horsez.
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 8715 And thus haue thei her armes schiffted, Ther baneres are wel hye lyffted.
2. To apportion, distribute; to separate into shares, divide; rarely to divide or partition off from.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (intransitive)] > divide and share
shiftc1000
partc1300
admeasure1469
snack1675
the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (transitive)] > divide into shares > divide and share out
dealc1000
shiftc1000
to-partc1325
partc1330
departa1340
divide1377
portion?a1400
dressc1410
parcel1416
skiftc1420
describe1535
repart1540
sever1548
disparklea1552
enterparten1556
share1577
to share out1583
repartitec1603
dispart1629
parcena1641
cavel1652
partage1660
split1674
snack1675
partition1740
scantle1749
appart1798
whack1819
divvy1877
number1887
cut1928
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate [verb (transitive)] > keep apart > by something intervening
sever1422
separate1553
sunder?1556
gulf1680
shift1703
c1000 Secular Laws Cnut §78 (Liebermann) 364/3 For þa yrfenuman to lande & to æhtan, & scyftan hit swiðe rihte.
a1175 Cott. Hom. 237 Ac ȝief ȝe habbeð understande þat we ȝiu er sede eter gate me his scyft and þer me hi to ȝesceodeð.
c1200 Vices & Virt. 37 Si recte offers, et non recte diuidis, peccasti, ‘ȝif ðu right offrest and noht riht ne sciftst, ðu seneȝest mare ðan ðu god do’.
c1315 Shoreham iv. 178 Þys manere senne nys nauȝt ones, Ac hys ischy [f] t in þry.
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 1482 A gret schode Of grauel & erþe al so, Þat hem hadde schifted ato.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 294 Al freliche of his oghne yifte His whete, among hem forto schifte.
c1425 Cast. Persev. 108 in Macro Plays 80 To putte his good in gouernaunce..he wolde þat it were scyfftyd a-mongis his ny kynne.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 446/1 Schyftyn, or partyn, or delyn, divido, partior.
1483–4 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 317 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 To take..the same hervest corne so boght and to shyfte ond distribute it upon the commynes.
?1529 S. Fish Supplicacyon for Beggers sig. A3 Nowe let vs then compare the nombre of this vnkind idell sort vnto the nombre of the laye people and we shall se whether it be indifferently shifted or not that they shuld haue half.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 389 They of this our Kentish cuntrey, do yet cal their partition of lande (shifting) euen by the very same worde that the lawe of Canutus many yeares since termed it.
1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 229 A little square corner of a Room, shifted off from the rest of the Room by the Wainscot.
1735–6 S. Pegge Alphabet of Kenticisms
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > act or do [verb (intransitive)]
workeOE
i-do971
doOE
to shift one's handa1300
performa1382
practisec1475
skift?a1534
handle1535
act1583
enact1593
actuate1620
the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)]
wieldOE
leadc1175
bear?c1225
steera1250
to take onc1275
contain1297
to shift one's handa1300
demeanc1320
guyc1325
govern1340
keep1362
havec1390
rulec1390
guide14..
conceivea1425
maintain?a1425
maynea1425
behavec1440
disporta1450
orderc1487
use1497
handle?1529
convey1530
gesture1542
treat1568
carry1584
deport1598
bestow1606
comport1616
mienc1680
conduct1706
the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > to a particular end or effect
to shift one's wordsa1300
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23390 Als suith mai þou cum þider, Al at þi wil or elles quider, Nu at þe erth nu at þe lift, Or hu sumeuer þou will þe scift.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23703 And þus-gat sal he schift his hand, Þe werld [read with Gött. MS. lauerd] þat es ai lastand.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xx. 166 And elde hent good hope and hastilich he shifte [v.r. chifte] hym.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 136 And loke wel that he ne schifte Hise wordes to no wicked use.
14.. Sir Beues (MS M.) 502 And he sye, it was no better paye, But shifte hym in the beste way.
1574 W. Bourne Regim. for Sea (1577) Introd. 7 b And to haue capacitie howe for to handle or schift him~selfe in foule weather or stormes.
a. intransitive. To manage matters; to deal, bargain, make arrangements with; to make provision for. to let (persons) shift [= French laisser faire] : to let (them) take their own course, not to interfere. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > conduct affairs > deal with a matter
shifta1400
TCB1969
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > abstain from interfering with > leave (persons) to their own course
to let (persons) shifta1400
to leave to oneself (also itself)?1531
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4440 He ferd ai wit so mikel thrift þat al was don als he wald scift.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2704 With these meyne moste we shifte, To haue parte of here vitailes her.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xix. 403 Lete hym shyfte with the kynge as he wyl.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xii. 301 Lete theym shyfte [Fr. laissez les faire] hardely, they two togyder.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) x. 274 I holpe theym not, nor I was not agenst theym, but wythdrewe me aside & lete the other shyfte [Fr. laissay faire les autres] wyth theym, and I stode styll.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxxix. 129 He lete theym shyfte, & fought tyll that the euyn departed theym.
?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. *Fi Because they lacked money, they shyfted with the Staple of Caleys for .xviii. thousande pounde.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 51/1 And shyfte whoso would with thys busynes afterwarde: for he neuer entended more to moue her in that matter.
1549 J. Cheke Hurt of Sedicion sig. E5v Caterpillers destroye the fruite, an hurtefull thinge and well shyfted for, by a diligente ouerseer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > bestir oneself
arisec825
to start upc1275
stirc1275
shifta1400
awakea1450
to put out one's fins?1461
wake1523
to shake one's ears1580
rouse1589
bestira1616
awaken1768
arouse1822
waken1825
to wake snakes1835
roust1841
to flax round1884
to get busy1896
to get one's arse in gear1948
a1400 Morte Arth. 3847 And so they schyfte and schove, be schotte to the erthe.
c1475 Partenay 2792 So he shifte And smote here And ther so faste, That the yren dore persed at the laste.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > face the vicissitudes of life
to shift in the world1536
1536 Lady Rocheford in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 68 And I not assuryd of no more..then one hundreth Marke; whyche ys veary hard for me to schyffte the worldd wythall.
1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. i. 24 They ware banysshed that enhabitaunce of pleasure [Paradise] and driuen to shift the world.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Hegendorphinus in Panoplie Epist. 386 Chaunge this your perillous purpose, and determine otherwise to shifte in the worlde.
5. quasi-transitive.1836 T. Carlyle Let. 16 May in Atlantic Monthly (1898) Sept. 295 I have no doubt Robert will shift his way with all dexterity..thro' that Cotton Babylon.
a. To manage to effect one's purposes, or to make a living, by one's own devices; to succeed, get on (well or ill). Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]
speedc1175
fayc1300
provec1300
flourishc1400
passc1425
prosper1434
succeedc1450
to take placea1464
to come well to (our) pass1481
shift?1533
hitc1540
walka1556
fadge1573
thrive1587
work1599
to come (good) speedc1600
to go off1608
sort1613
go1699
answer1721
to get along1768
to turn up trumps1785
to come off1854
pan1865
scour1871
arrive1889
to work out1899
to ring the bell1900
to go over1907
click1916
happen1949
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)]
shift?1533
to pass muster1573
to give a good account of (something, often oneself)1601
to hit off1700
to make a job of1736
to make a do of1834
to make a go of it1836
cut1900
the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > proceed or carry on an action [verb (intransitive)] > get on well or badly
farec1000
speeda1122
wendc1325
hapc1350
wieldc1384
frame1509
shift?1533
to make out1776
to get on1861
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Giv To shyfte, cheuir.
1562 Bp. J. Pilkington Expos. Abdyas Pref. sig. Aa ivv Many fishes be raueners, yet the yong fish encreases: the Hawkes be gredy yet shifts the littell byrds.
1568 C. Watson tr. Polybius Hystories f. 61 The inhabitants hauing repaired their walles, shifted well wyth this their lingering off.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 660 So well they shifted, that the Ape anon Himselfe had cloathed like a Gentleman.
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) ii. 24 She that hath wit, may shift any-where.
c1650 Don Bellianis 226 Here we can do no otherwise, replied he, but in the city we may better shift.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 327 I had some Inclination to give them their Lives, if they thought they could shift on Shore.
1775 S. Johnson Journey W. Islands 118 The rider then dismounts, and all shift as they can.
b. ‘To act or live though with difficulty’ (Johnson); to manage with something inferior or without something desirable; to make shift.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse [verb (intransitive)] > make do with what is available
doc1300
scamble1608
to make the best of a bad bargain1670
shift1680
fenda1682
to do with ——1715
manage1762
to make do1927
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > have difficulty > act or live through difficulties
scamblec1571
scramble1670
shift1723
manage1762
scrub1831
to struggle on1837
scratch1838
widdle1844
to worry along1871
to scrape along1884
to get by1908
scuffle1939
1680 W. Temple Ess. Advancem. Trade Ireland in Wks. (1720) I. 116 Common Garrans shift upon Grass the Year round.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 15 The first [sc. hard work] I had been an utter Stranger to, the last [sc. hard fare] I could shift well enough with.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) Introd. 6 After the public had shifted with having the fire below for the term of ten years.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. viii. 130 She is left in Mrs. Goddard's hands to shift as she can. View more context for this quotation
1865 Cornhill Mag. Oct. 513 Might not the colonists shift for the present with the southern island?
1900 Pilot 7 July 16/2 Congregations were deprived of their pastors, and had to shift as they best could without them.
6. To employ shifts or evasions; to practise or use indirect methods; to practise or live by fraud, or temporary expedients.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)] > be evasive
shift1580
shuffle1602
to shuffle up and down1633
stall1903
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > act evasively [verb (intransitive)]
haft1519
shuffle1565
dodge1575
palter1580
shift1580
hedge1611
boggle1615
subterfuge1622
prevaricatea1625
to shuffle up and down1633
evade1660
sophisticate1664
janka1689
whiffle1737
tongue-twist1836
caffle1851
pussyfoot1902
sidestep1904
spruce1916
to fudge and mudge1980
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > act fraudulently, cheat [verb (intransitive)] > as way of life
shift1580
shark1608
shirk1633
to live upon the shark1694
spiv1947
1580 J. Lyly Euphues (new ed.) f. 3 If I be in Crete, I can lye, if in Greece, I canne shift, if in Italy, I can court it.
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. D3v, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) Ther be those that will iustifie that by such meanes you doe shifte now and then, very cunningly.
1615 J. Taylor Revenge in Wks. (1630) ii. 144/1 To Sharke or Shift, or Cony-catch for mony.
1634 J. Levett Ordering of Bees 42 They are composed for the most part of yong Bees, who know not how to shift and rob as the old ones do.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) To Shift,..to double or dodge, as wild Beasts do when hunted.
1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. xxix. 108 To Whitby's convent fled the maid, The hated match to shun. ‘Ho! shifts she thus?’ King Henry cried.
7.
a. to shift for oneself: to provide for one's own safety, interests, or livelihood (implying either absence of aid, or, sometimes, want of concern for others); to depend on one's own efforts.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > be independent [verb (intransitive)] > be self-sufficient
to suffice to oneselfc1475
to shift for oneselfa1513
to work out (one's own) salvation1535
reside1610
to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet1621
to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) legs1623
shirk1843
to fish for oneself1867
to live on one's hump1909
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > seek or look after one's own interest [verb (intransitive)]
to shift for oneselfa1513
to lick one's fingers1530
to lick the trencher1542
to serve one's (also one's own) turn1560
to have an eye to (also for) the main chance1584
to look (also have an eye, etc.) to the main chance1592
squint1642
to mind, provide for, be careful of the main chance1645
to fish for oneself1647
to scratch for oneself1850
to play politics1860
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxxviii. f. lxv The firste was of laufull age soo that he myght helpe & shyfte for hym selfe.
1529 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 183 He putt the poore man in jepardy of his lyff yff he had nott shyftyd the better for hym self.
1593 Tell-Trothes New-yeares Gift (1876) 6 The birdes bringe upp the yong untill they can shift for themselves.
1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. ii. 131 His complices shifted for themselves.
1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 32 As if the Physicians should..leave their Patients to shift for themselves.
1808 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Sir W. Scott (1837) I. i. 5 This occasioned a quarrel between him and his father, who left him to shift for himself.
1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. x. 123 All..forsook him to shift for themselves.
b. transferred of inanimate or immaterial things.
ΚΠ
1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 40 For Truth certainly would do well enough, if she were once left to shift for her self.
a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) iii. 154 I concluded to let my Papers shift for themselves.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany ii. 16 [Sewage] deposited on the pavement, where it is left to shift for itself.
c. to shift for one's own safety, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > be safe [verb (intransitive)] > provide for one's own safety
to shift for one's own safety1511
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xliijv Euery man to shyfte for his escape, as almyghty god wolde yeue theym grace.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 12 Our Fleet lay a hull..each shifting for its owne safetie.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 17 They were obliged to shift as they could for their own security.
II. To change.† 11. transitive. To cause (a set of workmen) to change places with another set. Also said of a gang of workmen: To replace (another gang or set) as a relief; also intransitive for reflexive.
8. † c. Phrases. to shift a mind: to change one's mind. to shift hands: = ‘to change hands’; also, to change one's ground in argument. Obsolete.† d. To change (places). Also intransitive to change places with. Obsolete.† e. Shipbuilding. (a) To replace (old timbers, etc.) with new. (b) [? < shift n. 16] To adjust the ‘shift’ of (planks, etc.) in building a vessel.
a. transitive. To change, to replace by another of the kind. With plural object: To quit one and take another of (the things indicated). Obsolete exc. (somewhat archaic) with object a quality or appearance, as to shift shapes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change [verb (transitive)]
wharvec897
wendOE
i-wendeOE
awendOE
aturn?c1225
biwrixle?c1225
changec1225
turnc1225
shifta1325
vary1340
inchangea1382
strange1390
altera1398
alterate?a1425
permute?a1425
difference1481
renewc1515
alienate1534
wrixlec1540
to chop and change1557
variate1566
palter1587
permutate1598
immute1613
unmake1616
unsame1632
chop1644
veer1647
variegatea1690
refract1700
mutabilatea1704
commute1825
stranger1863
switch1919
the world > time > change > exchange > substitution > substitute [verb (transitive)]
changec1225
shifta1325
puta1400
underputc1400
put1483
put1535
subrogate1548
substitute1548
surrogate1586
counterchange1604
supplya1618
suffect1620
commute1667
succeed1667
to be in (another person's) shoes1842
sub1919
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1732 Ten siðes ðus binnen .vi. ger Shiftede iacob hirdenesse her.
1545 Act 37 Hen. VIII c. 9, §5 The wares..so bargayned, solde, eschaunged or shifted.
1618 G. Chapman tr. Hesiod Georgicks ii. 517 The shamelesse Man shifts friends still with his place.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 3 Oct. (1974) VIII. 460 There stayed..till he shifted his horses.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 141 Having shifted ev'ry Form to scape, Convinc'd of Conquest, he resum'd his shape. View more context for this quotation
1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (ed. 2) ii. 212 How many times did..the clergy..change or shift their opinions?
1864 Ld. Tennyson Voyage v The peaky islet shifted shapes.
b. Cookery. To change (the water in which something is steeped). Also, to change the water for, to transfer to another water. Now rare or Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook [verb (transitive)] > change cooking water
shift1673
1673 Gentlewomans Compan. 125 Then steep the [Calves-]Head in fair water warm five hours, in that time shift it twice or thrice.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery xi. 122 Shift the Water two or three times.
1773 E. Raffald Experienced Eng. Housekeeper (ed. 3) vi. 153 Shift the peel into clean water twice in the boiling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > change of opinion > change one's mind [phrase]
to pick (also peck) mooda1225
to turn, wend the luff?c1225
to sing another song or a different tune1390
to waive (one's) wit1390
to change one's minda1500
to change (turn, alter) one's copy1523
to turn (one's) tippet1546
to change one's note1560
to shift hands1611
to face about1645
to change (swap) horses in midstream (while crossing a stream)1864
to sing another tune1890
1611 T. Middleton & T. Dekker Roaring Girle sig. E But sleepe vpon this once more sir, you may chance shift a minde to morrow.
c1680 W. Beveridge Serm. (1729) II. 85 His affections all shifting hands as it were, and changing objects with one another.
1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. Pref. 14 Crafty Turn-coat! Are you not asham'd to shift hands thus in things that are Sacred?
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 296 This being the Point he promised to prove, he presently shifts hands, and changes the Question.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > change (place or position) > with another
shift1701
the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)] > change place or position > reciprocally
shift1786
1701 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 3) i. 144 That they should thus shift places, is very convenient for them.
1786 R. Burns Poems 206 Apr. xiii Wi' cits nor lairds I wadna shift, In a' their pride!
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > dispose or adjust planks
shift1682
overlaunch1711
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > replace old timbers with new
shift1793
1682 E. Wright Certificate 22 Nov. in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions (1691) 76 She shifted none of her said Rudder-Irons.
1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 47 A Ship's Bottom..wherein are shewed the Shifting, Scarfing or Over-launching the Planks.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §85 (note) The term shifting a timber in Ship~wrightry signifies in general the substitution of a piece of new timber in the place of a piece of old.
1805 Shipwright's Vade-mecum 201 The Wales must be wrought of such lengths, and the butts shifted, so as to give the strongest shift to the ports and each other.
1852 J. Fincham Outl. Ship Building (ed. 3) ii. 39 The butts are properly placed, or what is technically called properly shifted, when they are suitably disposed in relation to the ports and to each other.
f. intransitive. To undergo transmutation; to change.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > be transformed [verb (intransitive)] > in shape
turna1425
shift1607
taurize1727
transfigure1840
metamorphose1927
1607 B. Jonson Volpone i. ii. sig. B2v But I come not here, to discourse of that matter,..Or his telling how Elements shift . View more context for this quotation
1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion i. ii. 24 Let Proteus shift in ocean From shape to shape that eludes.
9. † b. To change (a person's) clothes; to dress in fresh underclothing. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To change (one's own or another's clothing). Now chiefly dialect. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > changing clothing > change clothing [verb (transitive)] > change clothing
shiftc1400
to get changed1846
c1400 Rule of St. Benet (Prose) 36 Tuinnne paire claþis sal ilkain haue for to scifte and for to waisse; yef þai haue mare, it sal be scorn.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 703/1 I shyfte garmentes, je change.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida ii. sig. D3 Would'st thou haue us sluts, and neuer shift the vestur of our thoughts?
1607 B. Jonson Volpone i. ii. sig. B2v But I Would aske, how of late, thou hast suffered translation, And shifted thy coat, in these dayes of Reformation? View more context for this quotation
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 97 I..went immediately to shift my Cloaths.
1844–48 W. Barnes Poems Rural Life in Dorset Dial. 185 Poll an' Nan runn'd off up stairs, To shift ther ðings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > changing clothing > change clothing [verb (transitive)] > change a person
shift1548
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. xxvj They bothe discended to the highe altare and were shifted from their robes.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 385 His wife did vnswadell the younge boy to washe and shift him.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 611 Neyther may she speake, but by those Magitæ is shifted and gallantly adorned.
1754–64 W. Smellie Treat. Midwifery I. 204 She must then be shifted with a clean, warm, half shift, linen-skirt and bed-gown.
c. reflexive. To change one's clothing; to put on fresh clothing, esp. undergarments. Obsolete exc. dialect †Formerly const. into, out of, from, etc. (clothes).
ΚΠ
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 703/1 In the sommer season I love to shyfte me often.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lxiiij He shifted hymself into a robe of a Cardinall.
1558 in A. J. Kempe Losely MSS (1836) 185 He hath not left hym a shert there to shyft hym with all.
1622 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 125 Nott leavinge one ragge to shift us.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 53 I was wet, and had no Clothes to shift me.
1839 G. C. Lewis Gloss. Words Herefordshire (at cited word) A man who changes his clothes is said ‘to shift himself’.
d. intransitive for reflexive †Const. into.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > changing clothing > change clothing [verb (intransitive)]
changea1470
shift1608
undress1769
swap1904
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxiv. 183 [It] Taught me to shift into a mad-mans rags. View more context for this quotation
1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) vi. 42 She begs you just would turn you, while she shifts.
1836 M. Scott Cruise of Midge xx. 371 We..shifted, breakfasted, and..returned to Ballywindle.
1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 30 After getting shifted I turned in and was soon asleep.
10.
a. transitive. To change (the scene): see scene n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change [verb (transitive)] > scene
shift1611
1611 B. Jonson Catiline i. sig. B3v As soone..As is a vaile put of, a visor chang'd, Or the Scene shifted, in our Theaters.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. 0. 42 Vnto Southampton do we shift our Scene. View more context for this quotation
1692 Scarronides ii. Pref. 3 The Scenes in our publick Theatres are not shifted so often as our thoughts.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Third 25 'Tis Time, high Time to shift this dismal Scene.
a1859 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (1861) V. xxiii. 117 The scene of the negociation was again changed. Having been shifted from France to England, it was shifted from England to Holland.
b. intransitive. Of a scene: To change. Const. to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change [verb (intransitive)] > of scene
shift1828
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth i, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 28 Gazing on the scene before me as if I had been afraid it would shift like those in a theatre before [etc.].
1861 F. A. Paley Æschylus' Eumenides (ed. 2) Introd. The scene shifts to the latter place.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (transitive)] > relieve (a person) at work
spell1595
shift1673
relay1788
to cover for1968
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (intransitive)] > relieve another at work
to give a spell1750
shift1791
to keep or take spell1828
spell1861
1673 Haddock Corr. 28 in Camden Miscell. VIII I went on bord the R. Charles to shift the men.
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §123 The companies at this time shifted there.
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §232 Jessop and company went out to shift Richardson.
III. To change the place of, to remove.
* transitive uses.† 17. † b. To decline, shirk (a duty). Obsolete.† c. To pass, get through (a period of time); to ‘kill’ time. Also, to put off, defer. Chiefly Scottish. Obsolete.† d. To quit or leave (a place). Obsolete. rare.† 18. To rid of. Often reflexive and in passive.
12. To transfer from one place to another; to remove; to alter the position of. Const. from, out of, to; also often with adverb or adverbial phrase.reflexive.1555 J. Proctor Hist. Wyates Rebell. 39 [They] consideringe..their chiefe strength thus tourned vppon them,..shifted them selues awaye.1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iv. 7 He came all in a sweat to the Sheriff Smith's house, who shifteth himself forth at a back door.† d. To palm off (something) on a person; to get rid of by handing over (something undesirable) to another. Obsolete.
a. with object a person. †Also reflexive to withdraw.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)]
stira1000
unsheathec1374
removea1398
shifta1400
disroom1489
supplant1534
unplacec1550
displace1552
unperch1578
dislodge1579
unsiege1594
disnest1596
unroost1598
unset1602
unseat1611
dis-element1612
dishabita1616
dislocate1623
disroota1625
disseata1625
rede1638
discardinate1648
disturb1664
disblock1665
start1676
uproot1695
disrest1696
disconcert1744
disannul1794
deplace1839
delocalize1855
disembed1885
disniche1889
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)]
fersec1000
teec1275
voida1387
withdraw1390
takea1393
avoida1400
devoida1400
shifta1400
avyec1440
trussa1450
deferc1480
remove1530
convey1535
subtractc1540
subduce1542
retire?1548
substract1549
room1566
to take off1620
to make oneself scarce1809
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > in different position
changea1375
movea1382
shifta1400
skifta1400
transpose?1518
shiften1544
transplace1621
trans-situate1630
translocate1650
shuffle1694
mudge1823
relocate1829
translaya1861
to change around1871
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 24807 (MED) Vn-til ship sone was he shift.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 9822 And thus this goode knight thei shift Euen to the Citie of Damas.
1579 Tale Hemetes the Heremite in A. Fleming tr. Synesius Paradoxe sig. e.ijv Being shifted from the sight of that I sought aboue all things in the worlde.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 53 He was shifted to a more commodious apartment.
b. With object a material thing. In Horticulture, to transplant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > planting > plant plants [verb (transitive)] > transplant
overplantOE
transplantc1440
transearth1628
retransplant1763
shift1830
c1425 Cast. Persev. 2850 in Macro Plays 162 I may not onys myn hod up schyfte.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xlvii How he wolde haue..his catell shyfted out of one pasture into another.
1588 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 27 Item given for bread & drinke when the fonte was shifted, xvj d.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. v. 2 Ser. Wheres Potpan that he helpes not to take away? He shift a trencher, he scrape a trencher? View more context for this quotation
1680 Sir C. Lyttelton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. (Camden) 232 Tother day, in shifting of a cabinet.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 135 He re-ascends into the apartment, by the steps which had been shifted for that purpose.
1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. ii. iii. 107 He showed me how to shift the plants.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiogr. (ed. 2) 209 It is the land and not the sea that has shifted its level.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xxii. 386 Cæsar had shifted his camp continually.
c. With immaterial object. Often with reference to a metaphorical burden: To transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.) from (a person, oneself) to or upon another.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > specific something immaterial > and onerous
shifta1572
shuffle1612
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 196 This answer gave he, as mycht appear, to schift ower the argument upon the Freare, as that he did.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. ii. 100 Every man shifting the Fault from himself.
1774 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. 10 Dec. (1778) 204 The name of Genius then shifted its application.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. vi. 555 A feeling of this inconsistency led several later writers..to shift the story to a later time.
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 252 The license which is admitted in shifting the accent for purposes of scansion and rhyme.
1885 Dunckley in Manch. Weekly Times 7 Feb. 5/5 The burden of taxation has been shifted from articles of necessary consumption to luxuries.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > hand over to another > get rid of by handing over
shift1634
to swear off1740
1634 J. Canne Necessitie of Separation v. 248 Some merchants, who..will shew the buyer a little that is good, and by this meanes cunningly shift all the rest upon him.
1659 in C. H. Firth Clarke Papers (1901) IV. 290 The proclamation declaring M. Gen. Egerton, &c., rebells and traytours came..to a petty constable of this towne, who shifted it over to another well~affected constable.
e. To change (gear), move (a gear lever). Also intransitive, to change from one gear into another; to shift up or down, to engage a higher or a lower gear. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (intransitive)] > drive or operate a motor vehicle > operate clutch and gears
change1895
to change down1904
declutch1905
shift1910
to ride the clutch (also brake)1916
double-declutch1934
double-clutch1938
upshift1956
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > drive a motor vehicle > operate clutch or gears
throw1804
to put in1902
to slip (in) the clutch1904
shift1910
to let in1933
double-clutch1938
to let out1958
1910 J. E. Homans Self-propelled Vehicles (ed. 7) xxix. 381 In shifting from high to low gears, all intermediate speeds were engaged.
1910 J. E. Homans Self-propelled Vehicles (ed. 7) xlv. 625 On shifting the transmission lever for the speed changes, if the transmission be of the selective type, the two movements..may offer some difficulty to the beginner.
1946 W. H. Crouse Automotive Mech. xvii. 388 Let us shift into second and note the actions that take place.
1946 W. H. Crouse Automotive Mech. xvii. 389 Synchromesh devices come into use when gears are shifted into second and high.
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Shift gears, to make a change from one method, tempo, or approach to another.
1962 J. D. MacDonald Girl viii. 99 She drove with her brown hands high on the wheel... She shifted up and shifted down.
1965 A. Miller Incident at Vichy 32 For some of us it's difficult to shift gears and go into reverse.
1969 New Yorker 6 Sept. 105/2 The Rumanians, having barely paused to shift their ideological gears, began holding the..congress.
1970 D. MacKenzie Kyle Contract (1971) 13 He drove out of Palamos... He shifted into drive and settled back.
1973 R. Hayes Hungarian Game liii. 319 I..shifted from second to third and..let my hand linger a while on the gear lever's mahogany knob.
1973 Sci. Amer. Apr. 11/2 (advt.) Once on the valley floor I shifted up into fourth.
1973 Time 16 Apr. 53/1 ‘We're shifting gears,’ says Vail, ‘and hiring guys with a track record of seven, eight, nine years' experience.’
1976 H. Nielsen Brink of Murder xv. 132 Simon switched on the ignition and shifted into reverse.
f. Computing. To move (data) to right or left in a register. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > use hardware [verb (transitive)] > operate on register
shift1946
to roll out1954
to roll in1962
1946 Ann. Computation Lab. Harvard Univ. 1 72 The quotient shift counter..is used to calculate the number of columns the quotient must be shifted to the right upon reading out to the buss in order to conform with the operating decimal position.
1947 A. W. Burks et al. in Coll. Wks. J. von Neumann (1963) V. 44 We do not consider multiplication by 2 as a true product since we will have a facility for shifting right or left in one or two pulse times.
1966 IFIP–ICC Vocab. of Information Processing 70 Digits shifted beyond the end of the word or register may simply be dropped.
1968 L. Fox & D. F. Mayers Computing Methods for Scientists & Engineers ii. 21 The first operation ‘shifts’ a2 to the right by b1–b2 places.
13. Nautical.† b. To record the variations of (the tide), the positions of the sun and moon. Obsolete.
a. To change or alter the position of (a sail, spar, the helm, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (transitive)] > change position of
shift1667
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 515 As when a Ship..where the Wind Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile. View more context for this quotation
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 18 Shift the Mizen tack, hawl bout fore Bowline.
1795 Ld. Nelson Let. 13 Mar. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 14 Employed shifting our topsails and splicing our rigging.
1825 H. B. Gascoigne Path to Naval Fame 50 The angl'd Jib with speed they hoist away, Then Shift the Helm to make her cast right way.
1846 A. Young Naut. Dict. 150 Shift the Helm! to put it from starboard to port, or the reverse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > observe [verb (transitive)] > record
shift1594
1594 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse sig. Ev Lets see the proudest scholler stir his course Or shift his tides as silly sailers do.
1595 J. Davis Seamans Secrets i. sig. B2 This necessary instrument for the yong practising Seamans vse, named an Horizontall tyde table, whereby he may shift his Sunne and Moone (as they terme it).
c. Of a ship or a navigator: To undergo displacement of (cargo or ballast).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > undergo shifting of cargo or ballast
shift1854
1854 G. B. Richardson Univ. Code (ed. 12) v. 803 I have shifted my ballast.
1880 Times 17 Dec. 5/6 The Isabel,..laden with oats, arrived..with cargo shifted.
14. To alter the direction of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement of [verb (transitive)]
disturnc1374
deturna1450
veer1647
shift1698
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 3 He not being so often called upon to shift his Course, or hand his Sails.
1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 387 Th' inestimable estimate of Brown Rose like a paper-kite, and charm'd the town; But measures, plann'd and executed well, Shifted the wind that rais'd it, and it fell.
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 186 As, when the winds are shifted, Shine snowy sails.
15. To change or alter (one's or its position, place); to change (one's lodging, abode, etc.). †Phrase, to shift place(s.In early examples really a contextual application of sense 8.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > change (place or position)
shift1570
flit1674
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 80/1 Many times he [sc. Origen] was compelled to shift places and houses.
1587 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. ii. xix. 205/2 They must needs shift soile, and seeke vnto other countries.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres i. lxix. sig. D4v Happy confiners you of other landes That shift your soile and oft scape tyrants hands.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 6 May (1974) VIII. 203 At his coming to town again, [he] hath shifted his lodging.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 100 The fiery Courser, when he hears from far..the shouts of War, Shifts place.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth V. 268 As quails and wood-cocks shift their habitations in winter, so also does the cuckoo.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. ii. 18 Advancing and retreating as the spray shifted its position.
16.
a. To get (a person) out of the way. In early use chiefly with away (see also 12a). In later use without adv.: To get rid of (an enemy or rival). Now slang or colloquial, to dislodge (a body of the enemy); (of a horse) to throw (the rider); also euphemistically, to ‘put out of the way’, murder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > get or be rid of > specifically a person
to shake off1530
unload1576
to shift offc1592
exonerate1614
shift1615
shab1677
purge1873
defenestrate1917
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > keep one's seat on (a horse) > unseat, throw (the rider)
casta1300
unhorse1390
throwa1425
unsaddlea1470
unseat1596
dismounta1616
fall1688
to funk (a person) off1821
unship1831
dishorse1859
to buck off1881
shift1891
the world > life > death > killing > man-killing or homicide > murder or assassination > murder or assassinate [verb (transitive)]
amurderOE
murderc1175
homicidec1470
murdresc1480
murtrish1490
manquell1548
slaughter1582
massacre1591
assassinate1600
remove1609
assassin1620
to do the business for a person1759
Septembrize1794
croak1823
square1888
shift1898
to take out1900
to bump off1907
bump1914
to do in1914
to put out1917
to knock off1919
terminate1920
to give (a person) the works1929
scrag1930
snuff1932
wash1941
waste1964
wipe1968
to terminate with extreme prejudice1969
neutralize1970
snuff1973
stiff1974
1615 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 19 He will be shifted out of his government or kingdom.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 77 Whilst you were here ere while, mad with your griefe,..Cassio came hither, I shifted him away. View more context for this quotation
1703 Duke of Queensberry in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 238 In a short time the Duke of Queensberry was to be shifted out, so as he was to be sole Secretary.
1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 180 Although the wicked little beast did his utmost to shift me, I managed to frustrate his efforts.
1898 Daily News 29 Sept. 3/2 [The enemy] were four to our one, but we shifted them.
1898 Daily News 10 Oct. 5/1 That would-be criminals..do sometimes cast about for safe means of ‘shifting’ inconvenient relatives, or enemies, there is, we fear, little doubt.
b. colloquial or slang. To ‘put away’, ‘dispose of’, consume (a quantity of food or drink); to spend (money).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > [verb (transitive)]
brookc950
abiteOE
haveOE
afangOE
takec1175
notea1200
usec1300
spendc1380
consumec1400
partake1602
pree1680
discuss1751
tuck1784
to put down1795
to be (also go) at the ——1796
go1830
kill1833
to put away1839
down1852
to put over1880
to wrap (oneself) (a)round1880
shift1896
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend [verb (transitive)]
aspendc885
doOE
spendc1175
spenec1175
dispendc1330
bewarec1374
bestow1377
suckc1380
unpursea1393
warea1417
stowc1440
to lay outc1449
spone1456
expend1477
expend1484
impendc1486
ware?a1513
deburse?1529
disburse1530
defray1543
unburse1570
outlay1573
to lay forth1584
sweat1592
vent1612
dispursea1616
exhaust1616
to set forth1622
waste1639
depursea1648
fence1699
douse1759
shut1797
shift1923
1896 P. A. Graham Red Scaur xvii. 263 Did you ever see her..shiftin' a curran' dumplin'?
1907 H. Wyndham Flare of Footlights xxii Lord, but he can shift his liquor!
1923 E. P. Oppenheim Inevitable Millionaires xiv. 148 I should trip it to Monte. That's the place to shift the shekels.
a. To avoid, elude, escape. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > be far from [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun
eschew1377
refrain1534
shift1595
skulka1653
avoid1697
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade > a blow, missile, or pursuit
waive1303
voida1500
devoid1509
avoid1530
shuna1586
shift1595
dodge1713
jinka1774
jouk1812
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade
fleec1175
shunc1275
forgoc1305
passc1330
escapea1340
beglidea1350
voidc1380
shuntc1400
missa1522
evade1535
delude1536
to dally out1548
illude1553
prevent1598
outruna1616
to fail of1624
elude1634
subterfugea1643
shoot1685
shift1724
to get out of ——a1817
win by…1816
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iii. lxxvii. sig. Q2 He..now strikes againe, Then nimbly shiftes a thrust, then lendes a wound.
1667 J. Guthrie in Union Mag. Oct. (1902) 463 It [a cross] is an affliction man cannot shift except he shift duty.
1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 48 These Beasts range in the night for their prey, and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them! View more context for this quotation
1724 A. Shields Life J. Renwick (1827) 60 Whereby they were..convinced of the Evil of these Courses they had taken, to shift and shun Suffering.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality ix, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 205 ‘Hush! hush!’ said Jenny, whose interest lay particularly in shifting further enquiry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > evade (responsibility or obligation)
feignc1300
quita1425
waivec1440
to shift off1577
shift?1611
balk1631
to go off ——1749
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xii. 233 This motion, Glaucus shifted not, but (without words) obeyd.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
adreeOE
wreaka1300
to draw forthc1300
dispend1340
pass1340
drivea1375
wastec1381
occupyc1384
overpassa1387
to pass over ——a1393
usec1400
spend1423
contrive?a1475
overdrive1487
consumea1500
to pass forth1509
to drive off1517
lead1523
to ride out1529
to wear out, forth1530
to pass away?1550
to put offc1550
shiftc1562
to tire out1563
wear1567
to drive out1570
entertainc1570
expire1589
tire1589
outwear1590
to see out1590
outrun1592
outgo1595
overshoot1597
to pass out1603
fleeta1616
elapse1654
term1654
trickle1657
to put over1679
absorb1686
spin1696
exercise1711
kill1728
to get through ——1748
to get over ——1751
tickc1870
fill1875
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (transitive)]
forslowc888
eldc897
forsita940
gele971
lengOE
drilla1300
delayc1300
onfrestc1300
tarryc1320
jornc1330
dretchc1380
defer1382
forbida1387
to put offa1387
to put (also set) (something) in (or on) delaya1393
dilate1399
fordrawa1400
to put overc1410
latch?c1422
adjournc1425
prolongc1425
proloynec1425
rejournc1425
to put in respite1428
sleuthc1430
respitea1450
prorogue1453
refer1466
sleep1470
supersede1482
respectc1487
postpone1496
overseta1500
respett1500
enjourna1513
relong1523
retract1524
tarde1524
track1524
to fode forth1525
tract1527
protract1528
further1529
to make stay of1530
surcease1530
prorogate1534
to fay upon longc1540
linger1543
retard?1543
slake1544
procrastine1548
reprieve1548
remit1550
suspense1556
leave1559
shiftc1562
suspend1566
procrastinate1569
dally1574
post1577
to hold off1580
drift1584
loiter1589
postpose1598
to take one's (own) timea1602
flag1602
slug1605
elong1610
belay1613
demur1613
tardya1616
to hang up1623
frist1637
disjourn1642
future1642
off1642
waive1653
superannuate1655
perendinate1656
stave1664
detard1675
remora1686
to put back1718
withhold1726
protract1737
to keep over1847
to hold over1853
laten1860
to lay over1885
hold1891
back-burner1975
c1562 E. Underhill in Narr. Reformation (Camden) 149 Ther was..no better place to shifte the Easter tyme in then quene Maryes courte.
1721 A. Ramsay Lucky Spence 5 When she now faun, That death nae langer wad be shifted, She thus began.
a1732 T. Boston View this & Other World (1775) viii. 391 It will be dear-bought ease, that is got by shifting to make ready.
a1732 T. Boston View this & Other World (1775) viii. 390 These thoughts are shifted, till they force in them~selves by death at the door.
a1732 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) vi. 80 It was suggested..that Langton minded to shift it till Michaelmas were past.
1766 A. Nicol Poems Several Subj. 1 Cast wholly on the care of Heav'n I shifted time, toss'd by hard fortune, Till I was near the age of fourteen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
beleavea1250
devoidc1325
voidc1330
roomc1400
wagc1400
departa1425
refusea1425
avoid1447
ishc1450
remove1459
absent1488
part1496
refrain1534
to turn the backc1540
quita1568
apart1574
shrink1594
to fall from ——1600
to draw away1616
to go off ——a1630
shifta1642
untenant1795
evacuate1809
exit1830
stash1888
split1956
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
beleavea1250
devoidc1325
voidc1330
to pass out ofa1398
roomc1400
departa1425
avoid1447
ishc1450
part1496
quita1568
shrink1594
shifta1642
to turn out of ——1656
refraina1723
blow1902
a1642 J. Suckling Goblins i, in Wks. (1874) II. 11 Shift, shift the place, the wood is dangerous: As you love safety, follow me.
1823 W. Scott Peveril I. vii. 185 They say he goes to shift the country.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > fact of being unoccupied > leave unoccupied [verb (transitive)] > clear out > clear of something undesirable
winnowc825
purge1340
dischargec1384
weedc1400
devoida1500
rid?1526
shift1567
free1613
scuffle1766
delouse1942
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Eiijv If that my booke be burthenouse Shift the of it be tyme.
c1610 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1735) 346 I did what I could to be shifted of the said Commission.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iv. i, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Xxxxx/2 Shift your house Lady of 'em, for I know 'em, They come to steale Napkins, and your Spoons.
1663 C. Hoole tr. M. Cordier School-colloquies (new ed.) 102 He sayes that he by Gods blessing, is now quite shift of his fever.
19. to shift off v.† a. To put off, remove (a covering, a garment); figurative to remove from oneself or another (a burden). Obsolete.† b. colloquial. To get rid of the effects of (drink).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away
ateec885
withbreidec890
animOE
overbearOE
to do awayOE
flitc1175
reavec1175
takec1175
to have away?a1300
to draw awayc1300
weve13..
to wend awaya1325
withdrawa1325
remuec1325
to carry away1363
to take away1372
waive1377
to long awaya1382
oftakec1390
to draw offa1398
to do froa1400
forflitc1420
amove?a1425
to carry out?a1425
surtrayc1440
surtretec1440
twistc1440
abstract1449
ostea1450
remove1459
ablatea1475
araisea1475
redd1479
dismove1480
diminish?1504
convey1530
alienate1534
retire1536
dimove1540
reversec1540
subtractc1540
submove1542
sublate1548
pare1549
to pull in1549
exempt1553
to shift off1567
retract?1570
renversec1586
aufer1587
to lay offa1593
rear1596
retrench1596
unhearse1596
exemea1600
remote1600
to set off1600
subduct1614
rob1627
extraneize1653
to bring off1656
to pull back1656
draft1742
extract1804
reef1901
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (transitive)] > take off clothing
to do offeOE
to lay downc1275
to weve offc1290
stripc1320
doffa1375
loose1382
ofdrawa1393
casta1400
to take offa1400
warpa1400
to cast offc1400
to catch offc1400
waivec1400
voidc1407
to put off?a1425
to wap offc1440
to lay from, offc1480
despoil1483
to pull offc1500
slip1535
devest1566
to shift off1567
daff1609
discuss1640
to lay off1699
strip1762
douse1780
shuffle1837
derobe1841
shed1858
skin1861
peel1888
pull1888
1567 G. Fenton in tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. Ep. Ded. sig. *ii Olde (not in yeres, with the moste parte cold be content to shyfte of and forgo.
1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada 157 Deadora..hastily shifted off her gowne.
1673 R. Leigh Transproser Rehears'd 61 The bishop..would haue declin'd the office, and shifted it off to one of his chaplains.
1786 J. H. Tooke Επεα Πτεροεντα Introd. 16 To take upon my shoulders a burthen which you seem desirous to shift off upon me.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > moderation in drinking > [verb (transitive)] > make sober > get rid of effects of drink
settle1639
to shift off1660
to walk off1860
1660 S. Pepys Diary 17 Aug. (1970) I. 223 I saw Mr. Creed show many the strangest evasions to shift off his drink that ever I saw in my life.
c. To evade, turn aside (an argument); to evade fulfilment of (a duty, a promise).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > evade (responsibility or obligation)
feignc1300
quita1425
waivec1440
to shift off1577
shift?1611
balk1631
to go off ——1749
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > an argument
elude1612
to put by1618
to put off1675
to shift offa1768
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. iii. sig. I.iij/2 Let vs not lye, nor goe about with subtiltie to shifte off the othe that once we haue made.
1673 H. Hickman Hist. Quinq-articularis 36 The calling of a Councel had been shifted of by Leo the X.
a1768 T. Secker Serm. Several Subj. (1770) I. iii. 59 Many of them..shift off the Subject, as well and as soon as they can.
1774 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic iv. §7 Conceiving that he intended to shift off his second payment.
d. To put (a person) off with an excuse or a subterfuge; to get rid of (a person).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > get or be rid of > specifically a person
to shake off1530
unload1576
to shift offc1592
exonerate1614
shift1615
shab1677
purge1873
defenestrate1917
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > evade [verb (transitive)] > put off
pop1530
to put off1569
to fode forth (also occasionally forward, off, on, out)1591
to shift offc1592
foist1598
to fob off1600
fub1600
to shuffle off1604
doffa1616
jig1633
to trump upa1640
whiffle1654
to fool off1664
sham1682
drill1752
to set off1768
to put by1779
jilt1782
palm1822
stall1829
job1872
to give (a person) the go-around1925
c1592 Faire Em sig. C2v Here commeth Valingford: Shift him off now: as thou hast done the other.
1607 T. Tomkis Lingua i. vii. B 3 b Where shall I run? how shall I shift him of?
1748 ? Noble Voy. E. Indies (1762) 31 The poor planter..was shifted off with a trifling answer.
1779 S. Johnson Denham in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets IV. 28 Now and then the reader is shifted off with what he can get.
** intransitive uses.
20. To move from one place to another; esp. to change one's lodging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)] > change place or position
flitc1175
passa1387
changec1390
skifta1400
shift1530
transmigrate1611
reshift1629
transfer1646
to turn over1851
reposition1947
translocate1975
society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (intransitive)] > change residence
remove1388
flit1504
shift1530
to pull up stakes1703
movea1707
emigrate1841
uproota1961
to pick up stakes1974
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 703/1 You can never thrive, you use to shift so often.
1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 6 To and fro runne they, from place to place shift they, vntill they haue attained to that plot of grounde where they passed ouer.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 1149/1 After that he shifted to one Iames Mower a shipmaster, who dwelt at Milton shore.
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 4 July (1948) I. 308 Her life passes with boarding in some country town as cheap as she can, and when she runs out, shifting to some cheaper place.
1851 T. Carlyle Life J. Sterling i. iii. 35 On the 20th of March 1815, the family had to shift.
21.
a. To move about, to move from one position to another, to move slightly. Also with adverbs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > move [verb (intransitive)]
stira1000
icchec1175
wag?c1225
movea1325
routa1325
to-wawea1375
removea1400
sway?a1400
trotc1430
ayrec1440
quinch1511
walk1533
twitch1542
shift1595
jee1727
to get around1849
1595 Saviolo's Practise i. E 2 But when the scholler shall giue the mandritta, the maister must shifte a little with his bodye.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables lxviii. 67 A Natural Levity that puts us upon Shifting and Changing.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 598 The nodes shift backwards about 19⅔° in the ecliptic every year.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose vii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 231 She shifted in her elbow-chair.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiogr. (ed. 2) 180 Its [the sea's] level is constantly shifting up and down.
b. of immaterial things.
ΚΠ
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) ix. lii. 236 Our Thoughts be shifting too and fro.
1744 J. Armstrong Art of preserving Health iv. 117 Happiness..that from stage to stage Invites us still, but shifts as we pursue.
c. Nautical. Of cargo, ballast: To move from its proper position, so as to disturb the equilibrium of the vessel.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > suffer shipwreck [verb (intransitive)] > shift (of cargo or ballast)
shoot1678
shift1797
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 377/1 They would have little or no occasion for ballast, and if any was used, could incur less danger from its shifting.
1912 Times 19 Dec. 20/5 There is always the risk that a grain cargo may shift.
d. Of the wind: To change its direction. Const. to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow from a particular quarter > change direction
wendc1275
turnc1300
waw1496
shift1661
whiffle1697
tack1727
haul1769
to come around1797
1661 J. Howell Twelve Several Treat. 196 The wind..begins..to sift [sic] already.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 14 The wind..shifted to and agen from East to North.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 311 The wind shifted a point or two to the northward of east.
1885 Manch. Examiner 10 Sept. 5/5 The wind has shifted round to due west.
e. In playing the violin or other instrument of the viol class, to move the left hand from one position to another on the neck of the instrument.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > play stringed instrument [verb (intransitive)] > shift position
shift1891
1891 Latarche Violin Student's Man. 7 Shifting... To shift from the fifth to the higher positions, before moving the hand, throw back the thumb until the neck rests on the first joint.
22.
a. To move away, withdraw, depart; esp. to slip off unobserved. Now only with away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away quietly or stealthily
steal1154
to steal one's wayc1385
skew?a1400
astealc1400
fleetc1400
slip?c1450
shrink1530
flinch1563
shift1594
foist1603
shab1699
slope1851
smuggle1865
sneak1896
mope1914
to oil out1945
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)] > quietly or stealthily
fleetc1400
slip?c1450
flinch1563
shift1594
slope1851
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > move off or away
steal1154
atslip?c1225
atcreepc1275
to steal one's wayc1385
glide1393
atslikec1400
fleetc1400
flinch1563
outsteala1586
leer1586
shift1594
shab1699
slive1707
ghost1833
to oil out1945
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H3 No obiect but her passions strength renewes: And as one shiftes another straight insewes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 169 Oh Mistris, Mistris, shift and saue your selfe.
1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 72 He shifted away by night, leauing his sonne behinde him.
1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Life in Wks. 996 He put himself into a Disguise..and so Shifted away till he came to a certain Village of his Own.
1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley's Secret II. iii. 43 The eyes that had been looking at his shifted away as he spoke.
b. Law. Of an estate: To pass away from one owner to another.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > transfer of property > be transferred [verb (intransitive)]
goOE
pass1416
devolvea1575
settle1629
to go overa1645
cede1756
shift1844
1844 J. Williams Princ. Law Real Property (1877) 292 The lands will shift away from him, and vest in the person next entitled in remainder.
23. To move, to travel, esp. quickly; to get a move on. Cf. shift n. 14a. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > move swiftly [verb (intransitive)]
lakeOE
flyOE
runOE
scour13..
jace1393
hie1398
spina1400
fleetc1400
glentc1400
stripc1400
suea1450
carryc1450
speed1488
scud1532
streek1598
winga1616
to clip it1616
hackney1617
swifta1618
whirryc1630
dust1673
whew1684
race1702
stroke1735
cut1797
spank1807
skid1815
speela1818
crack1824
skimmer1824
slap1827
clip1832
skeet1838
marvel1841
lick1850
travel1850
rush1852
zip1852
sail1876
rabbit1887
move1906
high-tail1908
to ball the jack1914
buzz1914
shift1922
giddap1938
burn1942
hoosh1943
bomb1966
shred1977
1922 M. Arlen ‘Piracy’ i. i. 21 I am..going to leap on my motor-bike and shift like hell to London.
1968 A. Diment Bang Bang Birds ix. 170 The speedo needle clawed its way up..to finally flicker over the 180 mark. Kilometres an hour of course but we were still shifting.
1970 M. Kenyon 100,000 Welcomes v. 37 You'll have time for a bite at Murphy's if you shift.
Draft additions 1993
g. colloquial. To sell. Cf. move v. 19b.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)]
to sell awayc1230
to set to (for, on) sale, a-salec1275
sella1330
to make sale (of)c1430
market1455
to make penny of1464
vent1478
to put away1574
dispatch1592
money1598
vent1602
to put off1631
vend1651
hawk1713
realize1720
mackle1724
neat1747
to sell over1837
unload1884
flog1919
move1938
shift1976
1976 New Musical Express 12 Feb. 25/3 Fleetwood Mac..finally cracked the America market in a Big Way last year, shifting over three million copies of their album.
1986 Marketing 11 Sept. 6/1 He hopes to shift 5,000 holidays in the coming year by exploiting a market not yet covered by most major short break operators.
1990 Church Times 19 Jan. 9/2 He was also hopeful that some £40,000-worth of unsold books would eventually be shifted.
Draft additions March 2022
transitive. slang. Originally: to have sexual intercourse with (someone). Now chiefly (Irish English): to kiss; to engage in sexual activity with (someone) which stops short of intercourse. Also intransitive. Cf. shift n. Additions.rare before 20th cent.In quot. 1675 as part of an extended pun.
Π
1675 Woman turn'd Bully iii. i. 42 Good. I'm at your service, to wait upon you to your Lodgings, and help to shift ye. B. Good. Sweet Sir, I have a Maid. Good. Then I'll shift her. Fran. That you sha'nt I assure you, Sir; for to shift a Maid, is to make her a woman.
1986 T. Murphy Conversat. on Homecoming 25 I shifted this Judy at a dance in Seapoint.
1991 J. O'Connor Cowboys & Indians (1992) 150 They were all talking about some primary teacher... ‘You shifted him once,’ chided Angela to Marion. ‘I did not, you dirty liar,’ blushed Marion.
2015 B. McKeon Tender 261 We were..flirting, I don't know the fuck what, in the corridor, and the next thing we were shifting.
2018 @HeyThurr 5 Apr. in twitter.com (accessed 7 May 2019) I shifted this boy last week and..we have exchanged 6 messages since and he just asked me did I want to go to Spain with him for a holiday.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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