raft1

 
Pronunciation: /rɑːft/

noun

  • 1a flat buoyant structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform.
  • a small inflatable rubber or plastic boat, especially one for use in emergencies.
  • a floating mass of fallen trees, vegetation, ice, or other material.
  • a dense flock of swimming birds or mammals: great rafts of cormorants, often 5,000 strong
  • 2a layer of reinforced concrete forming the foundation of a building.

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] travel on or as if on a raft: I have rafted along the Rio Grande
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] transport on or as if on a raft: the stores were rafted ashore
  • (of an ice floe) be driven on top of or underneath another floe.
  • 2 [with object] bring or fasten together (a number of boats or other objects) side by side: we rafted the boats together off the shores of Murchison Island

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'beam, rafter'): from Old Norse raptr 'rafter'. The verb dates from the late 17th century