Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
WAIF
I. noun see: wipe
Date: 14th century
1. a piece of property found (as washed up by the sea) but unclaimed, stolen goods thrown away by a thief in flight,
2. something found without an owner and especially by chance, a stray person or animal, waifish adjective waiflike adjective
II. noun
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse veif something flapping
Date: 1530
waft 4