driftage

[ drif-tij ]

noun

1. the action or an amount of drifting.
2. drifted matter.
3. Navigation. the amount of drift away from a set course as a result of wind and currents.
4. windage.

driftage

/ ˈdrɪftɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of drifting
2. matter carried along or deposited by drifting
3. the amount by which an aircraft or vessel has drifted from its intended course

Word History and Origins

Origin of driftage¹

First recorded in 1760–70; drift + -age

Example Sentences

The marls must have been formed largely by the driftage of sand and clay, while some of the limestone was6 produced by accumulation of corals and shells.

From Project Gutenberg

And now both their minds were Londonward, where all the tides and driftage and currents of human thought still meet and swirl together.

From Project Gutenberg

Experience has given directions for its use, avoiding some of the grosser causes of error from driftage and other causes.

From Project Gutenberg

The catastrophe of the Great War did more or less completely awaken a certain limited number of intelligent people to the need of some general control replacing this ancient traditional driftage of events.

From Project Gutenberg

The caverns themselves may be divided into those of residence, of sepulture, and of driftage, though one cavern has often successively assumed two at least of these characters.

From Project Gutenberg