Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shift \Shift\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shifted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Shifting}.] [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change,
   remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to
   divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to
   shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to
   Icel. sk[=i]fa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E.
   shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]
   1. To divide; to distribute; to apportion. [Obs.]

            To which God of his bounty would shift Crowns two of
            flowers well smelling.                --Chaucer.

   2. To change the place of; to move or remove from one place
      to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to
      another; to shift the blame.

            Hastily he schifte him[self].         --Piers
                                                  Plowman.

            Pare saffron between the two St. Mary's days, Or set
            or go shift it that knowest the ways. --Tusser.

   3. To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to
      turn; as, to shift the helm or sails.

            Carrying the oar loose, [they] shift it hither and
            thither at pleasure.                  --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   4. To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and
      to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to
      shift the clothes; to shift the scenes.

            I would advise you to shift a shirt.  --Shak.

   5. To change the clothing of; -- used reflexively. [Obs.]

            As it were to ride day and night; and . . . not to
            have patience to shift me.            --Shak.

   6. To put off or out of the way by some expedient. ``I
      shifted him away.'' --Shak.

   {To shift off}, to delay; to defer; to put off; to lay aside.
      

   {To shift the scene}, to change the locality or the
      surroundings, as in a play or a story.

            Shift the scene for half an hour; Time and place are
            in thy power.                         --Swift.