\Waif\, n. [OF. waif, gaif, as adj., lost, unclaimed, chose
gaive a waif, LL. wayfium, res vaivae; of Scand. origin. See
{Waive}.]
1. (Eng. Law.) Goods found of which the owner is not known;
   originally, such goods as a pursued thief threw away to
   prevent being apprehended, which belonged to the king
   unless the owner made pursuit of the felon, took him, and
   brought him to justice. --Blackstone.
2. Hence, anything found, or without an owner; that which
   comes along, as it were, by chance. ``Rolling in his mind
   old waifs of rhyme.'' --Tennyson.
3. A wanderer; a castaway; a stray; a homeless child.
         A waif Desirous to return, and not received.
                                               --Cowper.