noun a quick look. Military adoption of Arabic sufti (did you see?) UK, 1943
idiomshuftihave a shufti BrEBrEold-fashioned to look at something:I'll go over and have a shufti at what's going on.
have a shufti
To look at something briefly. ("Shufti" originated as a military term.) Primarily heard in UK. Wait, if you're just going to donate these clothes, can I have a shufti first? Some of these dresses are cute!
have/take a ˈshufti (at somebody/something)
(British English, informal) have a (quick) look (at somebody/something): I don’t mind having a shufti at the bike, but I can’t afford to buy it.This comes from military slang, from an Arabic word meaning try to see.