Skid vs Drift - What's the difference?

In intransitive terms the difference between skid and drift

is that skid is to slide in an uncontrolled manner as in a car with the brakes applied too hard while drift is to accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.

In transitive terms the difference between skid and drift

is that skid is to check or halt (wagon wheels, etc.) with a skid while drift is to drive into heaps.

skid

English

Noun

(en noun)

An out-of-control sliding motion as would result from applying the brakes too hard in a car.

Just before hitting the guardrail the driver was able to regain control and pull out of the skid .

A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan.

(by extension) A hook attached to a chain, used for the same purpose.

A piece of timber or other material used as a support, or to receive pressure.

# A runner of a sled.

In the hours before daylight he sharpened the skids and tightened the lashings to prepare for the long dogsled journey.

# A ski-shaped runner or supporting surface as found on a helicopter or other aircraft in place of wheels.

Due to frequent arctic travel, the plane was equipped with long skids for snow and ice landings.

# A basic platform for the storage and transport of goods, machinery or equipment, later developed into the pallet.

He unloaded six skids of boxes from the truck.

# (nautical, in the plural) Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it when handling cargo.

(Totten)

# One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, such as a boat or barrel.

Derived terms

* on the skids * skid mark

Verb

To slide in an uncontrolled manner as in a car with the brakes applied too hard.

They skidded around the corner and accelerated up the street.

To protect or support with a skid or skids.

To cause to move on skids.

To check or halt (wagon wheels, etc.) with a skid.

(Charles Dickens)

Anagrams

* * ----

drift

English

Noun

(en noun)

(label) Movement; that which moves or is moved.

# (label) A driving; a violent movement.

#* 1332 , (King Alisaunder) (1332)

The dragon drew him [self] away with drift of his wings.

# Course or direction along which anything is driven; setting.

#* (Richard Hakluyt) (c.1552-1616)

Our drift was south.

# That which is driven, forced, or urged along.

#*{{quote-book, year=1892, author=(James Yoxall)

, chapter=5, title= The Lonely Pyramid , passage=The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom.

# Anything driven at random.

#* (John Dryden) (1631-1700)

Some loga useless drift .

# A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., especially by wind or water.

#* (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)

Drifts of rising dust involve the sky.

#* Kane

We got the brig a good bed in the rushing drift [of ice].

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

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

#* (Thomas Fuller) (1606-1661)

cattle coming over the bridge (with their great drift doing much damage to the high ways)

# 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 retreat of continental glaciers, such as that which buries former river valleys and creates young river valleys.

#* 1867 , E. Andrews, "Observations on the Glacial Drift beneath the bed of Lake Michigan," American Journal of Science and Arts? , vol. 43, nos. 127-129, page 75:

It is there seen that at a distance from the valleys of streams, the old glacial drift usually comes to the surface, and often rises into considerable eminences.

# Driftwood included in flotsam washed up onto the beach.

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

* (Robert South) (1634–1716)

A bad man, being under the drift of any passion, will follow the impulse of it till something interpose.

A place (a ford) along a river where the water is shallow enough to permit crossing to the opposite side.

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.

* 1977 , (w), (The Canterbury Tales) , Penguin Classics, p. 316:

'Besides, you lack the brains to catch my drift . / If I explained you wouldn't understand.'

* (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)

He has made the drift of the whole poem a compliment on his country in general.

* Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)

Now thou knowest my drift .

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

(Knight)

(label) A tool.

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

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

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

(label) Movement.

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

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

# 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.

# The distance between the two blocks of a tackle.

# 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.

(label) A sideways movement of the ball through the air, when bowled by a spin bowler.

Derived terms

* driftage * driftal * drift-anchor * drift-bolt * drift-current * drift ice * driftland * driftless * drift-mining * drift-net * drift-sail * driftway * driftweed * driftwood * drifty

Verb

(en verb)

(label) To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.

*, chapter=11

, title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=One day I was out in the barn and he drifted in. I was currying the horse and he set down on the wheelbarrow and begun to ask questions.}}

(label) To move haphazardly without any destination.

(label) To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 15, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC

, title= Man City 4-3 Wolves , passage=Midway through the half, Argentine Tevez did begin to drift inside in order to exert his influence but by this stage Mick McCarthy's side had gone 1-0 up and looked comfortable.}}

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

(label) To drive into heaps.

(label) To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into heaps.

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.

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

To oversteer a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. See .

Derived terms

* bedrift * drift along * drift apart * drift off