'Drift sail' definitions:

Definition of 'Drift sail'

From: GCIDE
  • Drift \Drift\, a. That causes drifting or that is drifted; movable by wind or currents; as, drift currents; drift ice; drift mud. --Kane. [1913 Webster]
  • Drift anchor. See Sea anchor, and also Drag sail, under Drag, n.
  • Drift epoch (Geol.), the glacial epoch.
  • Drift net, a kind of fishing net.
  • Drift sail. Same as Drag sail. See under Drag, n. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'drift sail'

From: GCIDE
  • Drag \Drag\, n. [See Drag, v. t., and cf. Dray a cart, and 1st Dredge.]
  • 1. The act of dragging; anything which is dragged. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under water, as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind of low car or handcart; as, a stone drag. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage. [Collog.] --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • My lectures were only a pleasure to me, and no drag. --J. D. Forbes. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged. "Had a drag in his walk." -- Hazlitt. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Founding) The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper part being the cope. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. (Masonry) A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]