Skew-Whiff
/ˌskjuːˈwɪf/noun
Not straight, level, or properly aligned; askew.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “glamour” or “spell,” skew-whiff has no documented occult origin; its memorable effect comes from playful English sound-patterning.
Etymological Timeline
15th Century
Middle English
skew
“To turn or place obliquely; to lie at an angle.”
16th Century
English
whiff
“A brief puff or light gust of air; probably imitative in origin.”
19th Century
English
skew-whiff
“A rhyming or echoing formation meaning crooked, uneven, or out of alignment.”
1870s
English
skew-whiff
“Recorded in British English with the sense “askew” or “not quite right.””
Modern English
English
skew-whiff
“Informally, crooked, lopsided, or disorganized.”