Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

The AHD gives for the noun "shift" several senses, of which these seem to
be the operative here:

3a. A means to an end; an expedient.
3b. A strategm; a trick.

The usual "shifty" clearly derives from 3b, but in the phrase "make
shift" we see sense 3a.  "Shiftless" means lacking ambition or energy,
and so seems dervied from sense 3a, as signifying one lacking means to an
end (in the extension, to any end).  "Shiftful" does not appear in the
AHD, but we can easily see that it is the opposite of "shiftless"--that
is, that is signifies one well charged with means to ends, full of
energy, able to make do.

And, sure enough, the more complete OED does list the word, though
designated as "rare": "full of shifts or devices".  An excellent example
is their 1887 example, which referes to "shiftful Odysseus".

I'm underwhelmed and far from gruntled to see this usage.

"Making shift" meaning to exert oneself is perfectly familiar to me
especially in writing from before the 20th century.