obs. imp. & p. p. of Reave. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. ]
Raft bridge.
Raft duck. [ The name alludes to its swimming in dense flocks. ] (Zool.)
Raft port (Naut.),
v. t.
obs. imp. of Reave. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A raftsman. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ AS. ræfter; akin to E. raft, n. See Raft. ] (Arch.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Courtesy ] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds,
With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. The business of making or managing rafts. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.;
a. [ Perhaps akin to G. reif hoarfrost. ] Damp; musty. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]