A metal bolt or pin used in shipbuilding to guide the placement of larger structural fasteners, or a temporary fastener used during construction.
Compound of 'drift' (a tool used to widen or align holes) and 'bolt' (a metal fastener). 'Drift' in this context refers to a conical metal tool used by metalworkers to align holes before permanent fastening.
Shipbuilders needed temporary guides to align massive pieces of wood and metal—'driftbolts' were precision tools that actually did 'drift' or guide other things into place, showing how craftspeople named tools by their function.
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