# skiff

> English word · Noun · IPA /skɪf/ · frequency rank #45,659

## Definitions
1. A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and square stern.
2. Any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.

## Etymology
From Middle English skif, from Middle French esquif, from Old Italian schifo (“small boat”), from Lombardic skif (“boat”), from Proto-Germanic *skipą (“boat, ship”). Doublet of ship.

## Easily confused with
- **skin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skin)
- **skip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skip)
- **skim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skim)
- **skit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skit)
- **stuff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-stuff)
- **staff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-staff)
- **skill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skill)
- **swift** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-swift)
- **skirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skirt)
- **stiff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-stiff)
- **skins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-skins)
- **sniff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-sniff)
- **snuff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skiff-vs-snuff)
- **ski** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ski-vs-skiff)
- **Sif** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sif-vs-skiff)
- **skid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skid-vs-skiff)
- **sift** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sift-vs-skiff)
- **saif** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/saif-vs-skiff)
- **shift** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shift-vs-skiff)
- **skies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skies-vs-skiff)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ksiff`, `sikff`, `skfif`, `skif`, `skkiff`, `sskiff`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/skiff