Definition of: waif

(wāf) noun
1. A homeless, neglected wanderer; a stray.
2. Law Something stolen and then abandoned by the thief in his flight to avoid arrest.
3. Anything found and unclaimed, the owner being unknown.
4. A nautical signal; a waft.
—v.t. To throw away; cast off, as a waif.
—adjective Stray; wandering; homeless. [<AF waif, OF gaif, prob. <Scand. Cf. ON veif something flapping <veifa wave.]