RAFT • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Raft

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noun

Raft n.

A collection of logs, boards, pieces of timber, or the like, fastened together, either for their own collective conveyance on the water, or to serve as a support in conveying other things; a float.

A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. (such as is formed in some Western rivers of the United States), which obstructs navigation. (U.S.)

A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately. (Slang, U. S.) "A whole raft of folks."

Raft bridge.

(a)

A bridge whose points of support are rafts.

(b)

A bridge that consists of floating timbers fastened together.

Raft duck. (Zool.)

(a)

The bluebill, or greater scaup duck; called also flock duck. See Scaup.

(b)

The redhead.

Raft port (Naut.), a large, square port in a vessel's side for loading or unloading timber or other bulky articles; a timber or lumber port.

verb

Raft v. t. (past & past part. rafted; pres. part. rafting) To transport on a raft, or in the form of a raft; to make into a raft; as, to raft timber.

Raft v. obs. Imp. & p. p. of Reave.

See images of 'Raft'

Etymology of 'Raft'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Raft" Quotes from Famous Books

... persisted in clinging to his berth, stupidly, like a mule—from sheer fright I believe, like an animal that won't leave a stable falling in an earthquake. So we went to look for him. It was chancing death, since once out of our lashings we were as exposed as if on a raft. But we went. The house was shattered as if a shell had exploded inside. Most of it had gone overboard—stove, men's quarters, and their property, all was gone; but two posts, holding a portion of the bulkhead to which Abraham's bunk was attached, remained as if by a miracle. We groped ...

— Youth • Joseph Conrad

... therefore exerted themselves to the utmost to avoid them; whereas I could see no other way of escape, especially for the lady sitting beside me, than by boarding one of these very rafts. In order to effect this (against the wish of our two oarsmen) I seized with one hand a projecting peg on a raft we were passing and held our little vessel fast, and, while the two rowers screamed that the Ellida would be lost, quickly hoisted the lady out of the skiff on to the raft, across which we walked to the shore, calmly leaving our friends to save the Ellida as best ...

— My Life, Volume II • Richard Wagner

... all but totally consumed every stick of timber covering a space of forty-five miles by twenty-five; and the value of what was thus destroyed may be partially estimated, when it is considered that one good raft of timber is worth from three to five thousand pounds. These rafts, which are seen dotted about the lake in every direction, have a very pretty effect, with their little distinguishing flags floating in the breeze, some from ...

— Lands of the Slave and the Free - Cuba, The United States, and Canada • Henry A. Murray

... answered, looking more like himself every moment. By this only I learned that it was a steamer. I had till then supposed they had been starving in boats or on a raft—or ...

— Falk • Joseph Conrad

... our house was washed away, but I, then a small baby, was found floating on a sort of raft tied to a mattress on a bed. I was taken to a farm house, and found pinned to my ...

— The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale • Laura Lee Hope

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