Shift"ing, a.
1.
Changing in place, position, or direction; varying; variable; fickle; as, shifting winds; shifting opinions or principles.
2.
Adapted or used for shifting anything.
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.
© Webster 1913.