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Well-disposed; favorable. [R.] Gave healthful welcome to their shipwrecked guests. Shak.

One who assists in saving life and property from a wreck; a coast boatman. [Written also hoveller.] [Prov. Eng.] G. P. R. James.

The throwing overboard of goods from necessity, in order to lighten a vessel in danger of wreck.

A strong, buoyant boat especially designed for saving the lives of shipwrecked people.

The state of being lost or destroyed; especially, the wreck or foundering of a ship or other vessel.

make an error; to make a loss; to make money. He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time. Bacon.

Shipwreck; ruin. [Obs.] acon.

causing shipwreck. [Obs.] r. Taylor.

One who plunders; especially, a plunderer of wrecks; a pirate; a corsair; a marauder; a sharper. Sir W. Temple.

A wreck; destruction. [Obs., except in a few phrases.] Rack and ruin, destruction; utter ruin. [Colloq.] -- To go to rack, to perish; to be destroyed. [Colloq.] "All goes to rack." Pepys.

Fig.: Anything which causes a disaster or wreck resembling the wreck of a vessel upon a rock.

To get sight of; to see; as, to sight land; to sight a wreck. Kane.

A breaking or dashing to pieces; utter destruction; wreck.

Fig.: To plunge into difficulties and perils; to overwhelm; to ruin; to wreck. The Whig majority of the house of Lords was swamped by the creation of twelve Tory peers. J. R. Green. Having swamped himself in following the ignis fatuus of a theory. Sir W. Hamilton.

Goods which, after shipwreck, appear floating on the waves, or sea.

red; confusion; bewilderment. And snatched her breathless from beneath This wilderment of wreck and death. Moore.

Wreck; ruin; destruction. [Obs.] Chaucer. "A world devote to universal wrack." Milton. wrack and ruin