From Middle English yifte, ȝift, partly from Old English ġift, ġyft (“giving, consideration, dowry, wedding”) and Old Norse gipt (“gift, present, wedding”); both from Proto-Germanic *giftiz (“gift”). Equivalent to give + -t (etymologically yive + -t). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian jefte (“gift”), Dutch gift (“gift”) and its doublet gif (“poison”), German Gift (“poison”), Luxembourgish Gëft (“poison”), Vilamovian gejft, gyjft (“poison”), Yiddish גיפֿט (gift, “poison”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish gift (“poison”), Icelandic gift (“gift”). Doublet of yift. Distantly related to English habit, from Latin habitus.
1
Something given to another voluntarily, without charge.
She gave him a cell phone as a birthday gift.
“I thank you for the gift, Dr. Yueh,” Paul said, speaking formally. “It will be our secret. If there is a gift or favor you wish from me, please do not hesitate to ask.” "I . . . need for nothing," Yueh said.1965 October 1, Frank Herbert, “Book I: Dune”, in Dune, Philadelphia, Pa.: Chilton Book Company; [Toronto], Ont.: Thomas Nelson & Sons, →OCLC, page 40:
2 more examples
But now I know, but now I really know / Of only one thing I am truly very sure / Love is a gift, love is a gift1974, “But Now I Know”, Jean-Loup Dabadie (lyrics)performed by Jean Gabin:
She bought the model as a surprise gift for a friend who is a lifelong HST fan and railwayman, and who will soon be celebrating a milestone birthday.2021 October 20, “Stop & Examine”, in RAIL, number 942, page 71:
2
A talent or natural ability.
She had a gift for playing the flute.
“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
3
Something gained incidentally, without effort.
4
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing.
The office is in the gift of the President.
5
Australia A footrace, often a short one with a prize, sometimes with a handicap system whereby runners start from different positions based on their past performance.
[…] Stawell Gift Committee requested a special train for the gift's one hundredth anniversary celebration but […]1981, [Victoria] Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), volume 363, page 5391
[Someone who...] ran second in last year's gift believes the Bill is a good idea. […] Stawell Gift. […]1982, Victoria Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), page 2284
2 more examples
[…] Stawell Gift, which is held during the Easter break. I recently attended the Stawell Gift, and I must pay tribute to the excellent manner in which the gift is run. I compliment the Stawell Athletic Club which runs the event so well […]1990, Victoria Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), page 865
The Castlemaine Gift is an annual professional running event for all ages listed on the Victorian Athletic League calendar. The gift has over 150 years of rich history and has been a professional event for just over 100 years.c. 2026, Castlemaine Gift Athletics Carnival 2026 (Mount Alexander Shire Council)
From Middle English yifte, ȝift, partly from Old English ġift, ġyft (“giving, consideration, dowry, wedding”) and Old Norse gipt (“gift, present, wedding”); both from Proto-Germanic *giftiz (“gift”). Equivalent to give + -t (etymologically yive + -t). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian jefte (“gift”), Dutch gift (“gift”) and its doublet gif (“poison”), German Gift (“poison”), Luxembourgish Gëft (“poison”), Vilamovian gejft, gyjft (“poison”), Yiddish גיפֿט (gift, “poison”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish gift (“poison”), Icelandic gift (“gift”). Doublet of yift. Distantly related to English habit, from Latin habitus.
1
To give as a gift or donation.
2
To give away, to concede easily.
Chelsea threw away two points when substitute Salomon Kalou gifted Valencia a penalty five minutes from time with a needless handball.2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1 - 1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
They drove on, every rise in the road lifting their sightline clear of the drystone dykes along the roadside, gifting glimpses of the firth and the islands, the blue peaks of Arran.2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 440: