Definition: raft

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

raft
     n 1: a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be
          used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
     2: (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent:
        "a batch of letters"; "a deal of trouble"; "a lot of
        money"; "he made a mint on the stock market"; "it must
        have cost plenty" [syn: batch, deal, flock, good
        deal, great deal, hatful, heap, lot, mass, mess,
         mickle, mint, muckle, peck, pile, plenty, pot,
         quite a little, sight, slew, spate, stack, tidy
        sum, wad, whole lot, whole slew]
     v 1: transport on a raft; "raft wood down a river"
     2: travel by raft in water; "Raft the Colorado River"
     3: make into a raft; "raft these logs"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Raft \Raft\, obs.
   imp. & p. p. of Reave. --Spenser.

Raft \Raft\, n. [Originally, a rafter, spar, and fr. Icel. raptr
   a rafter; akin to Dan. raft, Prov. G. raff a rafter, spar;
   cf. OHG. r[=a]fo, r[=a]vo, a beam, rafter, Icel. r[=a]f roof.
   Cf. Rafter, n.]
   1. 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.

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

   3. [Perhaps akin to raff a heap.] A large collection of
      people or things taken indiscriminately. [Slang, U. S.]
      ``A whole raft of folks.'' --W. D. Howells.

   Raft bridge.
      (a) A bridge whose points of support are rafts.
      (b) A bridge that consists of floating timbers fastened
          together.

   Raft duck. [The name alludes to its swimming in dense
      flocks.] (Zo["o]l.)
      (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.

Raft \Raft\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rafted; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Rafting.]
   To transport on a raft, or in the form of a raft; to make
   into a raft; as, to raft timber.

Reave \Reave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved, Reft, or
   Raft(obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] [AS. re['a]fian,
   from re['a]f spoil, plunder, clothing, re['o]fan to break
   (cf. bire['o]fan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob,
   Icel. raufa to rob, rj[=u]fa to break, violate, Goth.
   bir['a]ubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to
   break. [root]114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe,
   Rove, v. t., Rupture.]
   To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to
   rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. ``To reave his
   life.'' --Spenser.

         He golden apples raft of the dragon.     --Chaucer.

         By privy stratagem my life at home.      --Chapman.