Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old North French
Origin: , (adjective), 'lost, unclaimed', from a Scandinavian language

waif

 noun
     
waif [countable]
1 someone, especially a child, who is pale and thin and looks as if they do not have a home
2

waifs and strays

British EnglishSSCDHP children or animals who do not have a home:
She loved cats, and would take any waifs and strays into her home.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary