Waft (pronounced wahft)
(1) To
carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water.
(2) To
send or convey lightly, as if in flight.
(3) To
signal to, summon, or direct by waving (obsolete).
(4) A
sound, odor etc, faintly perceived.
(5) A
light current or gust of air; a brief, gentle breeze.
(6) In admiralty
jargon, a signal flag hoisted or furled to signify various messages depending
on where it was flown (archaic).
(7) To
convey by ship (obsolete).
1535–1545: In the obsolete sense of conveying by ship, a
back formation from the late Middle English waughter
(armed escort vessel) from the Dutch and Low German wachter guard (a watchman or convoy vessel) which in some historic
documents is confused with waff. The familiar modern meaning “gently to pass
through air or space, to float" appears first in 1704, thought likely
related to the northern dialect word waff
(cause to move to and fro) which dates from 1510 as a variant of wave.
How to Waft
Waft, in the practical laboratory work of chemistry and other sciences, is a term used in safety manuals when describing the recommended way to sniff stuff. To waft, one uses an open hand with the palm facing the body, moving the hand in a gentle circular motion over or about the substance or gas of interest so as to lift vapours towards the nose. This permits a lower concentration to be inhaled, especially important with anything dangerous like ammonia, hydrochloric acid et al.
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