Drag, n. [See Drag, v. t., and cf. Dray a cart, and 1st Dredge.] 1. The act of dragging; anything which is dragged.
2. A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under water, as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc.
3. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind of low car or handcart; as, a stone drag.
4. A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage. Thackeray.
5. A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground.
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.
My lectures were only a pleasure to me, and no drag. J. D. Forbes.
7. Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged. “Had a drag in his walk.” Hazlitt.
8. (Founding) The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper part being the cope.
9. (Masonry) A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone.
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.
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.