Cai″tiff (?), a. [OE. caitif, cheitif, captive, miserable, OF. caitif, chaitif, captive, mean, wretched, F. chétif, fr. L. captivus captive, fr. capere to take, akin to E. heave. See Heave, and cf. Captive.] 1. Captive; wretched; unfortunate. Chaucer.
2. Base; wicked and mean; cowardly; despicable.
Arnold had sped his caitiff flight.
W. Irving.