An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A change in place or position, in particular
a change in wavelength, causing a movement of a spectral band or line. → redshift; → blueshift.

Etymology (EN): Shift, M.E., from O.E. sciftan “to divide, arrange”; akin to O.N. skipa “to arrange, assign.”

Etymology (PE): Kib “shift” from kibidan “to shift, displace, turn on one side,” kibidé “displaced, turned on one side.”