Wift sb.

variant of WHIFT sb.

1644.  True Narr. Seige Plymouth, 5. Having … given a signe … by hanging out a Wift, that he was in distresse.

1901.  W. Clark Russell, Ship’s Adv., vii. There’s the barque that fouled us last night, sir. She’s got a wift at her mizzen-peak.

1905.  Westm. Gaz., 16 June, 2/1. A wift of white foam.