Drift

drift, n. a driving: a heap of matter driven together, as snow: the direction in which a thing is driven: a slow current in the sea caused by the wind: leeway: the object aimed at: the meaning of words used: ( geol. ) detritus, such as broken rock, sand, gravel: ( mining ) a horizontal excavation or pa age.— v.t. to drive into heaps, as snow.— v.i. to be floated along: to be driven into heaps.— ns. Drift′age , that which is drifted: the amount of deviation from a ship's course due to leeway; Drift′-an′chor , an anchor for keeping the ship's head to the wind; Drift′-bolt , a steel bolt used to drive out other bolts; Drift′-ice , floating ma es of ice drifting before the wind; Drift′land , an old tribute paid for the privilege of driving cattle through a manor.— adj. Drift′le , without drift or aim.— ns. Drift′-min′ing , gold-mining by means of drifts in the gravel and detritus of old river-beds; Drift′-net , a net kept upright in the water by floats above and weights below; Drift′-sail , a sail immersed in the water, used for le ening the drift of a ve el during a storm; Drift′-way , a road over which cattle were driven: ( min. ) drift; Drift′-weed , gulf-weed: tangle; Drift′-wood , wood drifted by water.— adj. Drift′y , full of or forming drifts. [See Drive .]