life-buoy

"Mrs. Duncan," was Duncan's reply, as he tore the life-buoy from its hook and flung it aft.

Bunches of Knuckles 2010

Mapuhi and his wife survive amid the broken bodies littering the island but his mother Nauri is missing, swept away, forming a life-buoy out of floating cocoanuts and drifting to a tiny island fifteen miles from Hikueru where she is tormented by the corpses washing ashore.

“Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray, . . . .” 2008

If to save a life we want instantly a loaf, or brandy, or a life-buoy, then it does not matter whose loaf or brandy or life-buoy it is that is at hand; it must be used.

The Catholic Doctrine of Property Part One 2008

When your life has been saved, you return the life-buoy and pay for the brandy.

The Catholic Doctrine of Property Part One 2008

If there is a man overboard, he must have my life-buoy; but that does not make the whole ship common property.

The Catholic Doctrine of Property Part One 2008

I caught hold of a life-buoy which was near me — a gentleman clutched it from me, for fright makes some men selfish — and, breathless, I was thrown down into the gurgling water.

The Englishwoman in America 2007

A cry for the life-buoy passed from mouth to mouth.

Our Mutual Friend 2004

Till, gaining that vital centre, the black bubble upward burst; and now, liberated by reason of its cunning spring, and, owing to its great buoyancy, rising with great force, the coffin life-buoy shot lengthwise from the sea, fell over, and floated by my side.

Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

“A life-buoy of a coffin!” cried Starbuck, starting.

Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

His topper come up aisy like, as though 'twas a life-buoy if I may say soo, and unnerneath it come the fur boa, and then the guv'nor.

Edward FitzGerald and "Posh" "Herring Merchants" James Blyth