<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>A person, especially a child, who has no home or friends.</li><li>Something found, especially a stray animal, whose owner is not known.</li><li>A very thin, often small person, usually a young woman.</li><li>A stray item or article: to gather waifs of gossip.</li><li>Nautical: waft (def 8).</li></ul>