Defn: 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. Etym: [The name alludes to its swimming in dense flocks.] (Zoöl.) (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.]
Defn: To transport on a raft, or in the form of a raft; to make into a raft; as, to raft timber.
RAFTE
Raf"te, obs.
Defn: imp. of Reave. Chaucer.
RAFTER
Raft"er, n.
Defn: A raftsman.
RAFTER
Raft"er, n. Etym: [AS. ræfter; akin to E. raft, n. See Raft.] (Arch.)
Defn: Originally, any rough and somewhat heavy piece of timber. Now, commonly, one of the timbers of a roof which are put on sloping, according to the inclination of the roof. See Illust. of Queen-post. [Courtesy] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls. Milton.
RAFTER
Raft"er, v. t.