heft

n. [ From Heave: cf. hefe weight. Cf. Haft. ] 1. The act or effort of heaving; violent strain or exertion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He craks his gorge, his sides,
With violent hefts. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Weight; ponderousness. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of his age and heft. T. Hughes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The greater part or bulk of anything; as, the heft of the crop was spoiled. [ Colloq. U. S. ] J. Pickering. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; G. pl. Hefte /plu>. [ G. ] A number of sheets of paper fastened together, as for a notebook; also, a part of a serial publication.

The size of “hefts” will depend on the material requiring attention, and the annual volume is to cost about 15 marks. The Nation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hefted (Heft, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Hefting. ] 1. To heave up; to raise aloft. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inflamed with wrath, his raging blade he heft. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To prove or try the weight of by raising. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]