[ wɒft , wα:ft ]
■ verb pass easily or gently through the air.
↘move with a gliding motion.
■ noun
1》 a gentle movement of air.
↘a scent carried in the air.
2》 (also weft ) Nautical, historical a knotted ensign or garment displayed by a ship as a signal.
Origin
C16 (in the sense 'escort a ship'): back-form. from obs. ~er 'armed convoy vessel', from Low Ger., Du. wachten 'to guard'; sense 2 perh. related to Scots and northern waff 'a signal or wave', a var. of wave .