life raft

American  

noun

1. a raft, often inflatable, for use in emergencies, as when a ship must be abandoned or when a plane is downed at sea.

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life raft British  

noun

1. a raft for emergency use at sea

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Etymology

Origin of life raft

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Hudson encourages the audience to use Claire’s stubborn buoyancy and perky accent as a life raft when Lightning & Thunder are deluged by extremely bad luck.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m like the human life raft that everyone can come to when they need a little break.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The airship is gone, and the life rafts are in flames. We’re out of options.”

From Literature

Humor is his life raft because he neglects to plot much of a course around the seas of memory.

From Los Angeles Times

Survivors escaped on the Bayesian's life raft and were rescued by a small boat dispatched from another nearby yacht, the report says.

From BBC

Related Words

• lifeboat
• rowboat
• skiff