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makeshift

noun
/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

Etymology

Deverbal from make shift. First appears c. 1554, in the publications of H. Hilarie.

  1. derived from *skey-✻ — “to cut, divide, separate, part”
  2. derived from *skeyb-✻ — “to separate, divide, part”
  3. inherited from *skiftijaną✻
  4. inherited from sċiftan — “to divide, separate into shares; appoint, ordain; arrange, organise”
  5. inherited from schiften
  6. inherited from schyft
  7. compounded as makeshift — “make + shift”

Definitions

  1. A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.

    • And I am not a model clergyman—only a decent makeshift.
    • Hoboism cannot be cured or prevented by makeshifts or by local measures and efforts, although community interest naturally is vital in dealing with a problem that comes home to every community.

  2. Made to work or suffice

    Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.

    • They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.
    • Hodgson was able to introduce Arsenal teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his debut late on as this makeshift England line-up closed out a victory that was solid for the most part without ever threatening to be spectacular.

  3. A rogue

    A rogue; a shifty person.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for makeshift. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA