waif definition by Wordo

Noun

''

Often

in

the

form

'' '''

waif

and

stray

''', '''

waifs

and

strays

''':

an

article

of

movable property

which

has

been

found

,

and

of

which

the

owner

is

not

known

,

such

as

goods

washed up

on

a

beach

or

thrown away

by

an

absconding

thief

;

such

items

belong

to

the

Crown

,

which

may

grant

the

right

of

ownership

to

them

to

a

lord

of

a

manor

.

Verb

To

cast aside

or

reject

,

and

thus

make

a

waif

.