Yift
/jɪft/noun
An obsolete or dialectal form of “gift,” meaning something given voluntarily.
Did you know?Yift preserves an older pronunciation and spelling of “gift,” whose Germanic ancestor is connected with the ancient idea of giving or granting.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰabʰ-
“To give or receive; a proposed ancestral root behind the Germanic family of “gift” and “give”.”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*geftiz
“A giving, gift, or something granted.”
Old English
Old English
gift
“A gift, favor, or act of giving.”
Middle English
Middle English
yift
“An obsolete spelling and pronunciation of “gift.””
Modern English
English
gift
“Something given voluntarily, especially as a present; “yift” survives only in historical or dialectal use.”