GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Raft (rȧft), obs. imp. & p. p. of Reave.  Spenser.
   
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2.       
   Raft, n. [Originally, a rafter, spar, and fr. Icel. raptr a rafter; akin to Dan. raft, Prov. G. raff a rafter, spar; cf. OHG. rāfo, rāvo, a beam, rafter, Icel. rāf 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.
   
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   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.]
   
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   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.
   
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   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.] (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.
   
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3.       
   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”.
   
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4.       
   Reave (rēv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved (rēvd), Reft (rĕft), or Raft (rȧft) (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjūfa to break, violate, Goth. biráubōn to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. √114.  Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe, Rove, v. i., Rupture.] To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. “To reave his life.”  Spenser.
   
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   He golden apples raft of the dragon. Chaucer.
   
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   If the wooers reave
   
   By privy stratagem my life at home. Chapman.
   
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   To reave the orphan of his patrimony. Shak.
   
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   The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue. Tennyson.
   
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