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raft (n.1)
"floating platform," late 15c., originally "rafter" (c. 1300), from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse raptr "log" (Old Norse -pt- pronounced as -ft-), related to Middle Low German rafter, rachter "rafter" (see rafter).
raft (v.)
1680s, from raft (n.1). Related: Rafted; rafting.