"Drift" is a word in LAW AND LEGAL, ENGLISH

In mining law. An under-ground passage driven horizontally along the course of a mineralized vein or approxl-mately so. Distinguished from “shaft," which ls an opening made at the surface and extending downward Into the earth vertically, or nearly so, npon the vein or in-tended to reach it; and from “tunnel,” which Is a lateral or horizontal passage un-derground intended to reach the vein or min-eral deposit, where drifting mny begin. Jur-genson v. Diller, 114 Cal. 491, 46 Pac. 610,. 55 Am. St. Rep. 83

To float or be driven along by, or as by, a current of
water or air; as, the ship drifted astern; a raft drifted ashore; the
balloon drifts slowly east.

To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.

The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the
like; object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or
meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.

To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven
into heaps; as, snow or sand drifts.

A collection of loose earth and rocks, or boulders, which
have been distributed over large portions of the earth's surface,
especially in latitudes north of forty degrees, by the agency of ice.

A slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a
hole in metal, by being forced or driven into or through it; a broach.

A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to oblong
projectiles.

The distance through which a current flows in a given time.

The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon
the abutments.

A tool used in driving down compactly the composition
contained in a rocket, or like firework.

A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward
together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., esp. by wind or
water; as, a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, and the like.

A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway;
a small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel.

The place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised
and the rail is cut off, and usually terminated with a scroll, or
driftpiece.

A driving; a violent movement.

The distance to which a vessel is carried off from her
desired course by the wind, currents, or other causes.

The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or
drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.

To drive into heaps; as, a current of wind drifts snow or
sand.

The difference between the size of a bolt and the hole into
which it is driven, or between the circumference of a hoop and that of
the mast on which it is to be driven.

Course or direction along which anything is driven; setting.

Anything driven at random.

A drove or flock, as of cattle, sheep, birds.

In South Africa, a ford in a river.

to make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the
purpose of ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a
vein; to prospect.

That causes drifting or that is drifted; movable by wind or
currents; as, drift currents; drift ice; drift mud.

The distance between the two blocks of a tackle.

To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.

That which is driven, forced, or urged along

The angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the
meridian, in drifting.