DRIFTS. Detached masses of soil and underwood torn off the shore by floods and floating about, often mistaken for rocks and dangers. Also, in ship-building, those parts where the sheer is raised, and the rails are cut off, ending with a scroll; as the drift of the quarter-deck, poop-deck, and forecastle. DRIFT-SAIL. A contrivance, by means of immersing a sail, to diminish the drift of a ship during a gale of wind. (_See_ DRAGS.) DRIFT-WAY. Synonymous with _lee-way_. DRILL. Systematized instruction in the practice of all military exercises. DRILL-SHIPS. A recent establishment of vessels in which the volunteers composing the Royal Naval Reserve are drilled into practice. DRINK-PENNY. Earnest money at rendezvous houses, &c. DRIP-STONE. The name usually given to filters composed of porous stone. DRIVE, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _dryfan_]. A ship drives when her anchor trips or will not hold. She drives to leeward when beyond control of sails or rudder; and if under bare poles, may drive before the wind. Also, to strike home bolts, tree-nails, &c. DRIVER. A large sail formerly used with the wind aft or quartering. It was a square sail cut like a studding-sail, and set with a great yard on the end of the spanker-boom, across the taffrail. The name latterly has been officially applied to the spanker, both being the aftermost sails of a ship, the ring-tail being only an addition, as a studding or steering sail. (_See_ STEERING-SAIL.) Also, the foremost spur in the bilge-ways, the heel of which is fayed to the fore-side of the foremost poppet, and the sides of it look fore and aft. Also, a sort of fishing-boat. DRIVER-BOOM. The boom to which the driver is hauled out. DRIVING A CHARGE. Ramming home the loading of a piece of ordnance. DRIVING PILES. The motion of a ship bobbing in a head sea, compared to the vertical fall of monkeys on pile heads. DROG. A Gaelic term, still in use, to express the agitation of the sea. DROGHER. A small craft which goes round the bays of the West India Islands, to take off sugars, rum, &c., to the merchantmen.--_Lumber-drogher_ is a vessel built solely for burden, and for transporting cotton and other articles coastwise. DROGHING. The carrying trade of the West India coasts.