from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Drag \Drag\, n. [See {Drag}, v. t., and cf. {Dray} a cart, and
1st {Dredge}.]
1. The act of dragging; anything which is dragged.
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2. A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under
water, as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc.
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3. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind
of low car or handcart; as, a stone drag.
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4. A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage.
[Collog.] --Thackeray.
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5. A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground.
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6.
(a) Anything towed in the water to retard a ship's
progress, or to keep her head up to the wind; esp., a
canvas bag with a hooped mouth, so used. See {Drag
sail} (below).
(b) Also, a skid or shoe, for retarding the motion of a
carriage wheel.
(c) Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to
progress or enjoyment.
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My lectures were only a pleasure to me, and no
drag. --J. D.
Forbes.
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7. Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if
clogged. "Had a drag in his walk." -- Hazlitt.
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8. (Founding) The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper
part being the cope.
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9. (Masonry) A steel instrument for completing the dressing
of soft stone.
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10. (Marine Engin.) The difference between the speed of a
screw steamer under sail and that of the screw when the
ship outruns the screw; or between the propulsive effects
of the different floats of a paddle wheel. See Citation
under {Drag}, v. i., 3.
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{Drag sail} (Naut.), a sail or canvas rigged on a stout
frame, to be dragged by a vessel through the water in
order to keep her head to the wind or to prevent drifting;
-- called also {drift sail}, {drag sheet}, {drag anchor},
{sea anchor}, {floating anchor}, etc.
{Drag twist} (Mining), a spiral hook at the end of a rod for
cleaning drilled holes.
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