subs. (American).—1. A whole lot; and (2) a goodly number. [The rafts of lumber on American waterways are sometimes of enormous size.]
1834. C. A. DAVIS, Letters of Jack Downing, Major, 92. We have killed Calhoun and Biddle; but there is a RAFT of fellows to put down yet.
1856. WHITCHER, The Widow Bedott Papers, 210. [The Elder’s wife] was a sick lookin’ woman, with a hull RAFT o’ young ones squallin’ round her.
1886. Philadelphia Times, 24 Oct. This last spring a RAFT of them [serving girls] was out of employment.
