a. Also 4, 7 flotie. [f. FLOAT sb. or v. + -Y1.]
† 1. Watery. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 127. Þe fyrre I folȝed þose floty valeȝ.
2. Fitted to float, capable of floating, buoyant; hence, of a ship: Drawing little water.
a. 1608. Sir F. Vere, Comm., 28. Mine was a floaty ship and well appointed for that service.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia (1629), 194. Some few buttes of beare being flotie they got, which though it had lien six moneths vnder water was very good.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 170. To render them very floaty and lively in a rough hollow sea.
1862. Temple Bar Mag., IV. Feb., 351. The floaty air-cases rising on the other [side], the boat recovers her proper position.
Hence Floatiness, the quality or state of being floaty; buoyant emptiness.
1839–44. Tupper, Proverb. Philos. (1852), 478.
| Sage warning, stout advice, experiences ever to be learned, | |
| The foolish floatiness of vanity, and solemn trumperies of pride. |
