DRAUGHT, the depth of a body of water necessary
to float a ship: hence a ship is said to draw so many
feet of water, when she is borne up by a column of wa-
ter of that particular depth. Thus, if it requires a
Draught, body of water whose depth is equal to 12 feet, to float
Drawback, or buoy up a ship on its surface, she is said to draw 12
feet water; and that this draught may be more readily
known, the feet are marked on the stem and stern post,
regularly from the keel upwards.