Damp musings

[a_llusive]

Walking (from the bus stop)through the fine but driving rain to work this morning, I suddenly wondered

Comments

[_corpse_]

My SOED suggests it was the cattle, but as a verb rather than a noun. Since the word appears (in more or less recognisable form) in languages as far back as Old English, Old Norse and Gothic, I don't think the Americans can claim it.

[melliarc]

Well, to back up those theories, Google tells me that it's coming from Old English "drifan" which was used to indicate/show/lead people/animals into a specific direction.
Like driving the cattle to the field.