makeshift

See also: make-shift and make shift

English

Alternative forms

• make-shift, make shift

Etymology 1

1680s. From the verb form make shift.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

makeshift (plural makeshifts)

1. A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
   • 1871, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter XVII, in Middlemarch […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book II, page 316:

     And I am not a model clergyman—only a decent makeshift.

   • (Can we date this quote by Sir Humphry Davy and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     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.

Translations

temporary substitution

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 權宜之計／权宜之计 (zh) (quányízhījì), 权宜之计 (zh) (quányízhījì)

• Czech: provizórium n, dočasná náhrada f
• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} provisorisch (nl), ^{(please verify)} noodoplossing (nl) Template:note
• Finnish: hätävara (fi)
• German: Provisorium (de) n, Notlösung (de) f, Notbehelf m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: ainmniúchas m, siocair f, earra ionaid m
• Italian: ripiego (it) m, improvvisazione (it) f
• Polish: prowizorka (pl) f
• Portuguese: improviso (pt) m
• Russian: вре́менная заме́на f (vrémennaja zaména), вре́менное приспособле́ние n (vrémennoje prisposoblénije)
• Spanish: apaño (es) m, improvisación (es) f

Adjective

makeshift (comparative more makeshift, superlative most makeshift)

1. Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.

   They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.

Translations

made to work or suffice

• Catalan: provisional (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 臨時代用的／临时代用的, 临时代用的 (línshí dàiyòng de), 湊合的／凑合的 (zh), 凑合的 (zh) (còuhe de)

• Czech: provizorní (cs), dočasný (cs) m, improvizovaný (cs) m
• Dutch: provisorisch (nl)
• Finnish: hätävara -, tilapäis-
• French: de fortune (fr)
• German: behelfsmäßig (de), provisorisch (de)
• Haitian Creole: fortin
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: improvvisato (it), di fortuna, provvisorio (it), arraffazzonato
• Norwegian: nødløsning, improvisert
• Polish: prowizoryczny (pl) m
• Portuguese: improvisado (pt) m
• Russian: вре́менный (ru) (vrémennyj), импровизи́рованный (ru) (improvizírovannyj), самоде́льный (ru) (samodélʹnyj) (seld-made, not manufactured)
• Scottish Gaelic: sealach
• Spanish: provisional (es)
• Swedish: provisorisk (sv)

Etymology 2

1560s. From make +‎ shift.

Noun

makeshift (plural makeshifts)

1. (obsolete) A rogue; a shifty person.
   • 1592, Gabriel Harvey, “The First Letter”, in Four Letters and Certain Sonnets‎^[1], new edition, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, published 1814, A Due Commendation of the Quipping Author, page 2:

     Greene the coneycatcher, of this dream the author, / For his dainty devise deserveth the halter. / A rakehell, a makeshift, a scribbling fool; / A famous bayard in city and school: / Now sick as a dog, and ever brain-sick, / Where such a raving and desperate Dick?

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:villain

See also

• make shift

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “makeshift”, in Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 19 June 2018.