Waft \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 \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}.]
Note: 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 \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.
Note: This verb is regular; but waft was formerly som?times used, as by Shakespeare, instead of wafted.
The snow that fell from Virginia to New England canceled high school football games in the Northeast, but neither a wascally wabbit who wouldn't waft nor a fallen Humpty Dumpty dampened the spirits of millions of parade watchers.
There are the delays on the grandstand court to retrieve the food wrappers that waft down from the concession stands on the stadium concourses above.