A strut or abutment.

DRAGONET. A sea-fish, the gowdie, or _Callionymus lyra_.

DRAGON-VOLANT. The old name for a gun of large calibre used in the
French navy, whence the term was adopted into ours.

DRAGOON. Originally a soldier trained to serve alike on horse or foot,
or as Dr. Johnson equivocally explains it, "who fights indifferently on
foot or on horseback." (_See_ TROOP.) The term is now applied to all
cavalry soldiers who have no other special designation.

DRAG-ROPES. Those used in the artillery by the men in pulling the gun
backwards and forwards in practice and in action.

DRAGS. Whatever hangs over the ship into the sea, as shirts, coats, or
the like; and boats when towed, or whatever else that after this manner
may hinder the ship's way when she sails, are called _drags_.

DRAG-SAIL. Any sail with its clues stopped so as when veered away over
the quarter to make a stop-water when veering in emergency. The
drag-sail formed by the sprit-sail course was frequently used in former
wars to retard the ship apparently running away until the enemy got
within gun-shot.

DRAG-SAW. A cross-cut saw.

DRAG THE ANCHOR, TO. The act of the anchors coming home.

DRAKE. An early piece of brass ordnance.

DRAKKAR. A Norman pirate boat of former times.

DRAUGHT, OR DRAFT. The depth of water a ship displaces, or of a body of
fluid necessary to float a vessel; hence a ship is said to draw so many
feet of water when she requires that depth to float her, which, to be
more readily known, are marked on the stem and stern-post from the keel
upwards. Also, the old name for a chart. Also, the delineation of a ship
designed to be built, drawn on a given scale, generally a quarter-inch
to the foot, for the builders. (_See_ SHEER-DRAUGHT.)

DRAUGHT-HOOKS. Iron hooks fixed on the cheeks of a gun-carriage for
dragging the gun along by _draught-ropes_.

DRAUGHTSMAN. The artist who draws plans or charts from instructions or
surveys.

DRAW. A sail _draws_ when it is filled by the wind. A ship _draws_ so
many feet of water.--_To let draw a jib_ is to cease from flattening-in
the sheet.--_Draw_ is also a term for halliards in some of the northern
fishing-boats.--_To draw._ To procure anything by official demand from a
dockyard, arsenal, or magazine.--_To draw up the courses._ To take
in.--_To draw upon a ship_ is to gain upon a vessel when in pursuit of
her.

DRAWBACK. An abatement or reduction of duties allowed by the
custom-h