Waft , n.
1. A wave or current of
wind. "Everywaft of the
air." Longfellow.
In this dire
season, oft the whirlwind's wing
Sweeps up the burden
of whole wintry plains
In one wide waft.
Thomson.
2. A signal made by waving something, as a flag, in the air.
3. An unpleasant flavor. [Obs.]
4.
(Naut.) A knot, or stop, in the middle of
a flag. [Written also wheft.]
&fist; A flag with a waft in
it, when hoisted at the staff,
or half way
to the gaff,
means, a man overboard; at the peak, a desire to communicate; at the masthead, "Recall boats."
Waft , v. i. To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
And now the shouts waft near the citadel.
Dryden.
Waft (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wafted;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Wafting.]
[Prob. originally imp. & p. p. of wave, v. t. See Wave to waver.] 1. To
give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand
to; to beckon. [Obs.]
But soft: who
wafts us yonder?
Shak.
2. To cause to move
or go in a wavy manner, or by
the impulse of waves, as of water or air;
to bear along on a buoyant medium; as, a balloon
was wafted over the channel.
A gentle
wafting to immortal life.
Milton. Speed the soft intercourse from soul to
soul,
And waft a sigh
from Indus to the pole.
Pope. 3. To cause to float; to keep from sinking; to buoy. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
&fist; This verb is
regular; but waft was formerly som&?;times used, as by Shakespeare, instead of wafted.
Hear it pronounced