drifter — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A person who moves from place to place or job to job.

   Usage

   • Derogatory
   • sometimes

   Examples

   There are drifters painting beside you / They don't see the future that I do

2. A type of lightweight sail used in light winds like a spinnaker.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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).

   After trying a variety of light-wind sails, we've found the most versatile and simple one to be a nylon drifter.

   Some people recommend a medium- to lightweight 140- or 150-percent headsail, and others go for a drifter/reacher.

3. 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.

   Examples

   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 […]

   More examples (1)

   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.

4. A parachutist who jumps before the rest of the group to determine wind direction.

   Examples

   As we circled the area, the Dakota appeared and dropped a drifter.

   More examples (1)

   […] 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.

5. A person employed in driving in rock other than coal.

   Usage

   • Historical

Noun

1. One who takes part in drift fishing.

2. A boat used for drift fishing.

Noun

1. a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support

   Synonyms

   vagrantfloatervagabondclochard

   Broader terms

   wandererroamerroverbird of passagepoor personhave-not