raft
UK[rɑːft]US[ræft]
n
A flat floating structure, often made of pieces of wood tied together, used for travelling across water.
n
A small, inflatable boat made of rubber or plastic.
n
A large number or amount of something.
Etymology
The word 'raft' entered English from Old Norse 'raptr', meaning a log or rafter. This Norse term is believed to be related to the Old Norse word 'raptr' meaning 'rafter', suggesting a shared concept of a beam of wood. The semantic journey is straightforward: from a single beam or log, the meaning expanded to a structure made of multiple logs or planks fastened together for buoyancy. Its use to denote a large quantity is a later, figurative extension, likening an abundance of items to a collection of logs forming a raft.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old Norse origin. The entire word 'raft' functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
They built a simple raft to cross the river.
The survivors were rescued by an inflatable raft.
The manager has a raft of new proposals to discuss.