float board

Float \Float\ (fl[=o]t), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS.
   flota ship, fr. fle['o]tan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet,
   G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta.
   [root] 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
      liquid 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.
      (e) The hollow, metallic ball which floats on the fuel in
          the fuel tank of a vehicle to indicate the level of
          the fuel surface, and thus the amount of fuel
          remaining.
      (f) A hollow elongated tank mounted under the wing of a
          seaplane which causes the plane to float when resting
          on the surface of the water.
          [1913 Webster +PJC]

                This reform bill . . . had been used as a float
                by the conservative ministry.     --J. P.
                                                  Peters.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. A float board. See {Float board} (below).
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot
      deep. [Obs.] --Mortimer.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated
      coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.
      --Knight.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers
      for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
      [1913 Webster]

   9. A coal cart. [Eng.] --Simmonds.
      [1913 Webster]

   10. The sea; a wave. See {Flote}, n.
       [1913 Webster]

   11. (Banking) The free use of money for a time between
       occurrence of a transaction (such as depositing a check
       or a purchase made using a credit card), and the time
       when funds are withdrawn to cover the transaction; also,
       the money made available between transactions in that
       manner.
       [PJC]

   12. a vehicle on which an exhibit or display is mounted,
       driven or pulled as part of a parade. The float often is
       based on a large flat platform, and may contain a very
       elaborate structure with a tableau or people.
       [PJC]

   {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.

   {Float copper} or {Float 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) .
           [1913 Webster]