Float (flōt), n. [OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS. flota ship, fr. fleótan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet, G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta. √ 84. See Fleet, v. i., and cf. Flotilla, Flotsam, Plover.] 1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically: (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler. (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish. (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver.
This reform bill... had been used as a float by the conservative ministry. J. P. Peters.
2. A float board. See Float board (below).
3. (Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die. Knight.
4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. Bacon.
5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. Mortimer.
6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. Knight.
8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
9. A coal cart. Simmonds.
10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n.
Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; — a vane. — Float case(Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship. — Floatcopper or gold(Mining), fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost. — Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. Raymond. — Float stone(Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface. — Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b).