catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Float \Float\ (fl[=o]t), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS.
     flota ship, fr. fle['o]tan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet,
     G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta.
     [root] 84. See Fleet, v. i., and cf. Flotilla, Flotsam,
     Plover.]
     1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid,
        as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the
        liquid surface, or mark the place of, something.
        Specifically:
        (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and
            conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.
        (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet,
            which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler.
        (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait
            line, and indicate the bite of a fish.
        (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink;
            an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to
            swim; a life preserver.
        (e) The hollow, metallic ball which floats on the fuel in
            the fuel tank of a vehicle to indicate the level of
            the fuel surface, and thus the amount of fuel
            remaining.
        (f) A hollow elongated tank mounted under the wing of a
            seaplane which causes the plane to float when resting
            on the surface of the water.
            [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
                  This reform bill . . . had been used as a float
                  by the conservative ministry.     --J. P.
                                                    Peters.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A float board. See Float board (below).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream
        of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk,
        as an anvil or die. --Knight.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot
        deep. [Obs.] --Mortimer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated
        coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.
        --Knight.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers
        for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     9. A coal cart. [Eng.] --Simmonds.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     11. (Banking) The free use of money for a time between
         occurrence of a transaction (such as depositing a check
         or a purchase made using a credit card), and the time
         when funds are withdrawn to cover the transaction; also,
         the money made available between transactions in that
         manner.
         [PJC]
  
     12. a vehicle on which an exhibit or display is mounted,
         driven or pulled as part of a parade. The float often is
         based on a large flat platform, and may contain a very
         elaborate structure with a tableau or people.
         [PJC]
  
     Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of
        an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel;
        -- a vane.
  
     Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship.
  
     Float copper or Float gold (Mining), fine particles of
        metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus
        liable to be lost.
  
     Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein
        material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop.
        --Raymond.
  
     Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub
        stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface.
  
     Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See
        Float, 1
         (b) .
             [1913 Webster]