Word: drag Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English draggen (“to drag”), early Middle English dragen (“to draw, carry”), confluence of Old English dragan (“to drag, draw, draw oneself, go, protract”) and Old Norse draga (“to draw, attract”); both from Proto-Germanic *draganą (“to draw, drag”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to draw, drag”). Verb sense influenced due to association with the noun drag (“that which is hauled or dragged”), related to Low German dragge (“a drag-anchor, grapnel”). Cognate with Danish drægge (“to dredge”), Danish drage (“to draw, attract”), Swedish dragga (“to drag, drag anchor, sweep”), Swedish draga (“to draw, go”), Icelandic draga (“to drag, pull”). Doublet of draw. Pronunciation: /dɹæɡ/, [ˈdɹʷæɡ], [d͡ʒɹʷæɡ], /dɹaɡ/, [ˈdɹʷaɡ] 1. Resistance of a fluid to something moving through it. Labels: uncountable Example: When designing cars, manufacturers have to take drag into consideration. 2. Any force acting in opposition to the motion of an object. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: A high thrust-to-weight ratio helps a rocket to overcome the effects of gravity drag. 3. A device dragged along the bottom of a body of water in search of something, e.g. a dead body, or in fishing. Labels: countable 4. A systematic search for someone over a wide area, especially by the authorities; a dragnet. Labels: countable, informal Example: "He told me that he was certain that Coates shot at him. We threw out a drag and landed Coates within an hour." 5. A double drum-stroke played at twice the speed of the context in which it is placed. Labels: countable 6. A puff on a cigarette or joint. Labels: countable, informal Example: He got high after just one drag of the joint. Example: Give me a drag on that roach! 7. Someone or something that is annoying or frustrating, or disappointing; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment. Labels: countable, slang Example: Travelling to work in the rush hour is a real drag. Example: December 24, 1865, James David Forbes, letter to Dr. Symonds My lectures […] were only a pleasure to me, and no drag. 8. A long open horse-drawn carriage with transverse or side seats. Labels: countable, slang Example: I’m down here readin’ for my little go during the Long, only I come over from Baymouth pretty often in my drag… Example: Alcee Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp called for her one bright afternoon in Arobin's drag. 9. A street. Labels: countable, slang Example: the main drag Example: a back drag 10. The scent-path left by dragging a fox, or some other substance such as aniseed, for training hounds to follow scents. Labels: countable Example: to run a drag 11. A large amount of backspin on the cue ball, causing the cue ball to slow down. Labels: uncountable 12. A heavy harrow for breaking up ground. Labels: countable, uncountable 13. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy objects; also, a kind of low car or handcart. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Near-synonyms: dray, stoneboat Example: a stone drag 14. The bottom part of a sand casting mold. Labels: countable 15. A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone. Labels: countable, uncountable 16. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable 17. Anything towed in the water to retard a ship's progress, or to keep her head up to the wind; especially, a canvas bag with a hooped mouth (drag sail), so used. Labels: countable, uncountable 18. A pulled load. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: A northbound drag of furnace coal on the former South Yorkshire Joint Line crosses the East Coast main line near Black Carr behind Class "O4/1" 2-8-0 No. 63693. 19. A skid or shoe for retarding the motion of a carriage wheel. Labels: countable, uncountable 20. Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Had a drag in his walk. 21. Witch house music. Labels: uncountable Example: “Our music is not like some other types where the energy is back and forth – music considered drag is like giving up oneself, to be pulled and controlled,” she says. Example: Whatever the appellation, these artists are doing some amazing stuff. Haunted house and drag are probably the most apposite terms because the music sounds like ghostly apparitions of old dance tunes, only at half-speed. 22. The last position in a line of hikers. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Okay, I'll take point, Kate, you take drag. 23. A push somewhat under the centre of the cue ball, causing it to follow the object ball a short way. Labels: countable, uncountable 24. A device for guiding wood to the saw. Labels: countable, uncountable 25. A mailcoach. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable 26. A prison sentence of three months. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: The sodger who done it was quodded, but only for a drag, and he swore to God as how he’d do for me the next time as he comed across me. Example: 1869, A Merchant. Editor: Frank Henderson, Six Years in the Prisons of England The copper knew I did that job, and had me up on suspicion some time after, and gave me a drag (three months) over it. The next bit I did was a 'sixer' (six months), and I escaped from prison in about three weeks after I got it.