Shifting backstays (Naut.), temporary stays that have to be let go
whenever the vessel tacks or jibes. -- Shifting ballast, ballast which
may be moved from one side of a vessel to another as safety requires.
-- Shifting center. See Metacenter. -- Shifting locomotive. See
Switching engine, under Switch.
Shift"ing*ly, adv. In a shifting manner.
Shift"less, a. Destitute of expedients, or not using successful
expedients; characterized by failure, especially by failure to provide
for one's own support, through negligence or incapacity; hence, lazy;
improvident; thriftless; as, a shiftless fellow; shiftless management.
-- Shift"less*ly, adv. -- Shift"less*ness, n.
Shift"y (?), a. Full of, or ready with, shifts; fertile in expedients
or contrivance. Wright.
Shifty and thrifty as old Greek or modern Scot, there were few
things he could not invent, and perhaps nothing he could not
endure.