raft

(raft, räft)

noun

  1. a flat, buoyant structure of logs, boards, barrels, etc. fastened together; specif., one used like a boat as in an emergency or in shallow water
  2. a similar structure anchored in a river or lake and used by divers, swimmers, etc.
  3. a flat-bottomed, inflatable device, as of rubber, for floating on water

Origin: ME rafte, beam, rafter < ON raptr, log: see rafter

transitive verb

  1. to transport on a raft
  2. to make into a raft

intransitive verb

to travel, work, etc. on a raft

noun

Informal a large number, collection, or quantity; lot

Origin: < raff, sense (with unhistoric -t)

See raft in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A flat structure, typically made of planks, logs, or barrels, that floats on water and is used for transport or as a platform for swimmers.
  2. A flatbottom inflatable craft for floating or drifting on water: shooting the rapids in a rubber raft.
verb raft·ed, raft·ing, rafts
verb, transitive
  1. To convey on a raft.
  2. To make into a raft.
verb, intransitive
To travel by raft.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old Norse raptr, beam, rafter

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noun
Informal
A great number, amount, or collection: “As the prairie dog goes, conservation biologists say, so may go a raft of other creatures” (William K. Stevens).

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of dialectal raff, rubbish; see raffish

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