Life Raft

Definition

A buoyant emergency vessel, typically inflatable and compact, designed to be deployed quickly to rescue people in distress at sea. Life rafts are mandatory safety equipment on ships and aircraft, equipped with basic survival supplies and signaling devices.

Example Usage

After the ship struck the iceberg, passengers rushed to board the life rafts before the vessel sank.

Origin

English compound phrase, 'life raft' became standard safety terminology in the early 20th century following major maritime disasters

Fun Fact

Modern inflatable life rafts use bright orange fabric and reflective strips for visibility, and many are equipped with sea anchors to prevent drifting.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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