An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1a) General: A driving movement or force; impulse; impetus; pressure.
1b) Physics: A slight change of a quantity with time, for example the sensitivity of an electronic detector continuously operated during a long period as an effect of continued use.
1c) A slow change in frequency of a radio transmitter.
1d) Aerospace: The gradual deviation of a rocket or guided missile from its intended trajectory.
2) (v.intr.) To be carried along by currents of water or air, or by the force of circumstances.

From M.E. drift, from O.E. drifan "to drive," or from O.N. or M.Du. drift, from P.Gmc. *driftiz, related to *dribanan "to drive."

Delek from Lori, Laki, Hamadâni, Malâyeri "push, shove, drive;" variants Gilaki duko, Tâleši dako, Baluchi dhakkk(a) "push, shove, blow," Choresmian dh- "to hit," Kurd. dân/di- "to beat, hit," Proto-Iranian *daH- "to beat, hit, strike" (Cheung 2007); PIE base *dhen- "to hit, push;" delekidan, verb from delek.