a fishing net supported upright in the water by floats attached along the upper edge and sinkers along the lower, so as to be carried with the current or tide.
Origin
1840-50
Examples from the web for drift net
The drift net samples were not split, and the entire sample was randomly picked.
Only one herring gill net may be used by occupants of a boat, and the drift net must be attended at all times when deployed.
drift net studies are widely used and have a proven validity in stream water quality studies.
British Dictionary definitions for drift net
drift net
noun
1.
a large fishing net supported by floats or attached to a drifter that is allowed to drift with the tide or current