Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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. r[=a]fo, r[=a]vo, a beam, rafter, Icel. r[=a]f 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. (such as is
      formed in some Western rivers of the United States), 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.] (Zo["o]l.)
      (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.

Reave \Reave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reaved}, {Reft}, or
   {Raft}(obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reaving}.] [AS. re['a]fian,
   from re['a]f spoil, plunder, clothing, re['o]fan to break
   (cf. bire['o]fan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob,
   Icel. raufa to rob, rj[=u]fa to break, violate, Goth.
   bir['a]ubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to
   break. [root]114. Cf. {Bereave}, {Rob}, v. t., {Robe},
   {Rove}, v. t., {Rupture}.]
   To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to
   rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. ``To reave his
   life.'' --Spenser.

         He golden apples raft of the dragon.     --Chaucer.

         By privy stratagem my life at home.      --Chapman.

Source : WordNet®

raft
     v 1: transport on a raft; "raft wood down a river"
     2: travel by raft in water; "Raft the Colorado River"
     3: make into a raft; "raft these logs"

raft
     n 1: a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be
          used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
     2: (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
        "a batch of letters"; "a deal of trouble"; "a lot of
        money"; "he made a mint on the stock market"; "it must
        have cost plenty" [syn: {batch}, {deal}, {flock}, {good
        deal}, {great deal}, {hatful}, {heap}, {lot}, {mass}, {mess},
         {mickle}, {mint}, {muckle}, {peck}, {pile}, {plenty}, {pot},
         {quite a little}, {sight}, {slew}, {spate}, {stack}, {tidy
        sum}, {wad}, {whole lot}, {whole slew}]