Synonyms for drifter at Thesaurus.com with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. drif-ter SEE DEFINITION OF drifter. Drift drift 1. Slow movement away from the normal or original position. A chance variation, as in gene frequency from one generation to another; the smaller the population, the greater are the random variations. Antigenic drift relatively minor changes in the antigenic structure of a virus strain, probably resulting from natural selection of.
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From drift + -er.
Pronunciation[edit]
(Received Pronunciation)IPA(key): /ˈdɹɪftə/
(General American)IPA(key): /ˈdɹɪftɚ/
Noun[edit]
drifter (pluraldrifters)
(sometimes derogatory) A person who moves from place to place or job to job.
(nautical) A type of lightweight sail used in light winds like a spinnaker.
1995, Ken Textor, The New Book of Sail Trim (page 85)
In winds above 10 knots we usually run wing-and-wing with our 100 percent lapper set on a whisker pole opposite the mainsail. As the wind drops, we get out the drifter and set it flying to leeward (Fig. 1).
1999, Lin Pardey, Larry Pardey, Cost Conscious Cruiser: Champagne Cruising on a Beer Budget
After trying a variety of light-wind sails, we've found the most versatile and simple one to be a nylon drifter.
2000, Jim Howard, Charles J. Doane, Handbook of Offshore Cruising (page 178)
Some people recommend a medium- to lightweight 140- or 150-percent headsail, and others go for a drifter/reacher.
(automotive) A driver who uses driving techniques to modify vehicle traction to cause a vehicle to slide or power slide rather than drive in line with the tires.
2006, Paul Morton, How to Drift: The Art of Oversteer (page 32)
However, sensing the available traction may actually be more important to a drifter.
For professional drifters looking for even more fine-tuning of their suspension setups, some companies offer more advanced two-way adjustable shocks […]
2009, Michael Bender, The Fast, the Fraudulent and the Fatal (page 50)
While this method is used by a few drifters in rear-wheel drive cars, this technique is really the only way one can drift in a front-wheel drive car.
(fishing) One who takes part in drift fishing.
(fishing) A boat used for drift fishing.
A parachutist who jumps before the rest of the group to determine the environmental conditions.
1948, Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News (volume 75, page 557)
As we circled the area, the Dakota appeared and dropped a drifter.
1962, Queen's Medical Magazine (volumes 54-55, page 31)
[…] a circling Beverley dropped parachutists in small groups — a few hard words were said about R.A.F. organisation. The time came at last for the first four to get into the balloon car. First out was a drifter — an experienced parachutist who jumps first to assess conditions by allowing himself to drift at random.
(mining,historical) A person employed in driving in rock other than coal.
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
French: vagabond(fr)m
Italian: vagabondo(it), giramondo(it)m, persona alla derivaf