Although corsets are famously designed to cinch a woman's waist while hefting the bosom and smoothing the hips, this usage did not begin in earnest until the 18th century.
He grinned, hefting the machete.
He growled and wrapped his arms around her, hefting her onto his hips.
Hefting the saddle to its proper place, she released the horses in their separate pastures.
Hefting them, Gabe glanced at his forearm.
She closed the lid and jerked the suitcase off the bed, hefting it down the hall, across the living room and out the door.
The man I saw at Trader Joes hefting a case was clearly onto something.