drifter

From drift +‎ -er.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɪftə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɪftɚ/

drifter (plural drifters)

1. (sometimes derogatory) A person who moves from place to place or job to job.
2. (nautical) A type of lightweight sail used in light winds like a spinnaker.
   • 1995, Ken Textor, The New Book of Sail Trim (page 85)

     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).

   • 1999, Lin Pardey, Larry Pardey, Cost Conscious Cruiser: Champagne Cruising on a Beer Budget

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

   • 2000, Jim Howard, Charles J. Doane, Handbook of Offshore Cruising (page 178)

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

3. (automotive) 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.
   • 2006, Paul Morton, How to Drift: The Art of Oversteer (page 32)

     However, sensing the available traction may actually be more important to a drifter.

   • 2007, Calvin Wan, Calvin Wan's Drifting Performance Handbook (page 132)

     For professional drifters looking for even more fine-tuning of their suspension setups, some companies offer more advanced two-way adjustable shocks […]

   • 2009, Michael Bender, The Fast, the Fraudulent and the Fatal (page 50)

     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. (fishing) One who takes part in drift fishing.
5. (fishing) A boat used for drift fishing.
6. (mining, historical) A person employed in driving in rock other than coal.

drifter

1. indefinite plural of drift