Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''weif'', ''waif'', from Anglo-French, from ''waif'', adjective, stray, unclaimed, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse ''veif'' something flapping, ''veifa'' to be in movement  

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''weif'', ''waif'', from Anglo-French, from ''waif'', adjective, stray, unclaimed, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse ''veif'' something flapping, ''veifa'' to be in movement  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1530]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1530]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1a : a piece of [[property]] found (as washed up by the [[sea]]) but unclaimed

*1a : a piece of [[property]] found (as washed up by the [[sea]]) but unclaimed

A '''waif''' (from the Old French ''guaif'', stray beast) is a living [[creature]] removed, by hardship, loss or other helpless circumstance, from its original [[surroundings]]. The most common usage of the word is to designate a [[homeless]], [[forsaken]] or [[orphaned]] child, or someone whose [[appearance]] is evocative of the same.

A '''waif''' (from the Old French ''guaif'', stray beast) is a living [[creature]] removed, by hardship, loss or other helpless circumstance, from its original [[surroundings]]. The most common usage of the word is to designate a [[homeless]], [[forsaken]] or [[orphaned]] child, or someone whose [[appearance]] is evocative of the same.

As such, the term is similar to a [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ragamuffin ragamuffin] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_children street urchin], although the main distinction is [[volitional]]: a runaway [[youth]] might live on the streets, but would not properly be called a ''waif'' as the departure from one's [[home]] was an exercise of free will. Likewise, a person fleeing their home for [[purposes]] of [[safety]] (as in response to political [[oppression]] or natural [[disaster]]), is typically considered not a waif but a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee refugee].

As such, the term is similar to a [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ragamuffin ragamuffin] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_children street urchin], although the main distinction is [[volitional]]: a runaway [[youth]] might live on the streets, but would not properly be called a ''waif'' as the departure from one's [[home]] was an exercise of free will. Likewise, a person fleeing their home for [[purposes]] of [[safety]] (as in response to political [[oppression]] or natural [[disaster]]), is typically considered not a waif but a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee refugee].

In nautical terms, a waif is any survivor of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipwreck shipwreck] compelled to make [[land]] upon a foreign shore. In this sense it is roughly synonymous with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaway castaway],(see [[Marooned]]) although the latter term is generally associated with [[isolation]]; a waif (in the nautical sense) usually indicates a survivor of a marine [[disaster]] who has fallen into the [[care]] or custody of others.

In nautical terms, a waif is any survivor of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipwreck shipwreck] compelled to make [[land]] upon a foreign shore. In this sense it is roughly synonymous with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaway castaway],(see [[Marooned]]) although the latter term is generally associated with [[isolation]]; a waif (in the nautical sense) usually indicates a survivor of a marine [[disaster]] who has fallen into the [[care]] or custody of others.

The noun ''waif'' has a secondary nautical [[meaning]], referring to any [[message]] that has been received via flag [[signals]]. However, in that [[context]] the etymology is most likely divergent, springing instead from the Old Norse ''veif'', a back-and-forth movement.

The noun ''waif'' has a secondary nautical [[meaning]], referring to any [[message]] that has been received via flag [[signals]]. However, in that [[context]] the etymology is most likely divergent, springing instead from the Old Norse ''veif'', a back-and-forth movement.

Dating from the Middle Ages, when a woman was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proscription proscribed] and subjected to penalties of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlaw outlawry], she was said to be “waived” and called a "waif". This waiving of the law was tantamount to outlawry since it removed all protection of the [[law]]. [[Women]] in this [[status]] were outside of the "law", and others could kill them on sight as if they were wild [[animals]].

Dating from the Middle Ages, when a woman was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proscription proscribed] and subjected to penalties of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlaw outlawry], she was said to be “waived” and called a "waif". This waiving of the law was tantamount to outlawry since it removed all protection of the [[law]]. [[Women]] in this [[status]] were outside of the "law", and others could kill them on sight as if they were wild [[animals]].

In [[fashion]] and related popular culture, the term "waif" is commonly used to describe an incredibly thin person, usually a [[woman]].

In [[fashion]] and related popular culture, the term "waif" is commonly used to describe an incredibly thin person, usually a [[woman]].

"The waif look" was used in the 1960s to describe thin, large-eyed models such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiggy Twiggy], Edie Sedgwick and Dorothee Bis. The "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamine gamine]" look of the 1950s, associated with actresses like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Hepburn Audrey Hepburn] (who [[starved]] as a teenager during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_famine_of_1944 Dutch famine of 1944]), Leslie Caron and Jean Seberg, was, to some extent, a precursor.

"The waif look" was used in the 1960s to describe thin, large-eyed models such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiggy Twiggy], Edie Sedgwick and Dorothee Bis. The "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamine gamine]" look of the 1950s, associated with actresses like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Hepburn Audrey Hepburn] (who [[starved]] as a teenager during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_famine_of_1944 Dutch famine of 1944]), Leslie Caron and Jean Seberg, was, to some extent, a precursor.

The term "waif" was seemingly ubiquitous in the 1990s, with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin_chic heroin chic] fashion and models like Kate Moss and Jaime King on the runways and in advertisements. Actresses like Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_Ryder Winona Ryder], recently the British actress [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keira_Knightley Keira Knightley] and singer Celine Dion have all been pinned with the term.

The term "waif" was seemingly ubiquitous in the 1990s, with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin_chic heroin chic] fashion and models like Kate Moss and Jaime King on the runways and in advertisements. Actresses like Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_Ryder Winona Ryder], recently the British actress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keira_Knightley Keira Knightley] and singer Celine Dion have all been pinned with the term.

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Orphan]]'''''

*'''''[[Orphan]]'''''

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]