Drag, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Dragged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Dragging (?).] [OE. draggen; akin to Sw. dragga to search with a grapnel, fr. dragg grapnel, fr. draga to draw, the same word as E. draw. � See Draw.] 1. To draw slowly or heavily onward; to pull along the ground by main force; to haul; to trail; — applied to drawing heavy or resisting bodies or those inapt for drawing, with labor, along the ground or other surface; as, to drag stone or timber; to drag a net in fishing.
Dragged by the cords which through his feet were thrust. Denham.
The grossness of his nature will have weight to drag thee down. Tennyson.
A needless Alexandrine ends the song
That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Pope.
2. To break, as land, by drawing a drag or harrow over it; to harrow; to draw a drag along the bottom of, as a stream or other water; hence, to search, as by means of a drag.
Then while I dragged my brains for such a song. Tennyson.
3. To draw along, as something burdensome; hence, to pass in pain or with difficulty.
Have dragged a lingering life. Dryden.
To drag an anchor(Naut.), to trail it along the bottom when the anchor will not hold the ship.
Syn. — See Draw.