- OE. shiftenschiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skīfa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shivesheave, n., shiver, n
- To divide; to distribute; to apportion.ObsTo which God of his bounty would shift Crowns two of flowers well smelling.
- To change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame.Hastily he schifte him[self].Pare saffron between the two St. Mary's days, Or set or go shift it that knowest the ways.
- To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails.Carrying the oar loose, [theyshift it hither and thither at pleasure.
- To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes.I would advise you to shift a shirt.
- To change the clothing of; -- used reflexively.ObsAs it were to ride day and night; and . . . not to have patience to shift me.
- To put off or out of the way by some expedient.Ishiftedhim away.Shift the scene for half an hour; Time and place are in thy power.
