driftwood

American  

[drift-wood] / ˈdrɪftˌwʊd /

noun

1. wood floating on a body of water or cast ashore by it.

2. such wood adapted for use in interior decoration.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or made of driftwood.

   a driftwood lamp.

driftwood British  

/ ˈdrɪftˌwʊd /

noun

1. wood floating on or washed ashore by the sea or other body of water

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Etymology

Origin of driftwood

First recorded in 1605–15; drift + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Soldiers and police had helped clear the debris and driftwood.

From Barron's

It looked like a chunk of driftwood, but as Roz marched closer, she saw that it was a sea creature, slowly swimming against the current.

From Literature

My tent set up and food safely stored in the provided metal boxes, I went over to the tiny beach and sat on a driftwood log, relaxing under the sun’s warm rays.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dreadnaught was — well, you’ve eaten there, or someplace like it: a big, old, ramshackle driftwood pile, built out over the water on ancient wooden pylons.

From Salon

At low tide, the sea is not visible beyond the expanse of grassland, but the area is littered with driftwood, some plastic waste and there is even a small, upturned boat nearby.

From BBC

Related Words

• chunk
• piece
• timber
• wood