2. A game of dice in which he who threw three alike won all the stakes. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
Raffle
(Raf"fle), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raffled (-f'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Raffling ] To engage in a raffle; as,
to raffle for a watch.
Raffle
(Raf"fle), v. t. To dispose of by means of a raffle; — often followed by off; as, to raffle off a horse.
Raffler
(Raf"fler) n. One who raffles.
Rafflesia
(||Raf*fle"si*a) n. [NL. Named from its discoverer, Sir S. Raffles.] (Bot.) A genus of stemless,
leafless plants, living parasitically upon the roots and stems of grapevines in Malaysia. The flowers have
a carrionlike odor, and are very large, in one species (Rafflesia Arnoldi) having a diameter of two or
three feet.
Raft
(Raft) obs. imp. & p. p. of Reave. Spenser.
Raft
(Raft), n. [Originally, a rafter, spar, and fr. Icel. raptr a rafter; akin to Dan. raft, Prov. G. raff a
rafter, spar; cf. OHG. rafo, ravo, a beam, rafter, Icel. raf 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.
2. A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation. [U.S.]
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.
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.] (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.] 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. imp. of Reave. Chaucer.
Rafter
(Raft"er) n. A raftsman.
Rafter
(Raft"er), 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.
[Courtesy] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds,
With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls.
Milton. Rafter
(Raft"er), v. t.
1. To make into rafters, as timber.
2. To furnish with rafters, as a house.
3. (Agric.) To plow so as to turn the grass side of each furrow upon an unplowed ridge; to ridge. [Eng.]
Rafting
(Raft"ing), n. The business of making or managing rafts.
Raftsman
(Rafts"man) n.; pl. Raftsmen A man engaged in rafting.
