Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.
That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one's preliminaries the year before entering college.
The act of drawing; also, the thing drawn. Same as Draught.
A selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or from any part of it, or from a military post; also from any district, or any company or collection of persons, or from the people at large; also, the body of men thus drafted.
An order from one person or party to another, directing the payment of money; a bill of exchange.
An allowance or deduction made from the gross weight of goods.
A drawing of lines for a plan; a plan delineated, or drawn in outline; a delineation. See Draught.
The form of any writing as first drawn up; the first rough sketch of written composition, to be filled in, or completed. See Draught.
A narrow border left on a finished stone, worked differently from the rest of its face.
The slant given to the furrows in the dress of a millstone.
Depth of water necessary to float a ship. See Draught.
A current of air. Same as Draught.
A quantity of liquid poured out for drinking; a dose.
The act of drawing a quantity of liquid from a large container; also, the quantity of liquid so drawn.
A device for regulating the flow of gases in a chimney, stovepipe, fireplace, etc.; as, to close the chimney draft. It is usually a flat plate of the same internal dimensions as the flue, which can be rotated to be parallel to or perpendicular to the current of gases.
Pertaining to, or used for, drawing or pulling (as vehicles, loads, etc.). Same as Draught; as, a draft horse.
Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of air. Same as Draught.
To draw the outline of; to delineate.
To compose and write; as, to draft a memorial.
To draw from a military band or post, or from any district, company, or society; to detach; to select; especially, to compulsorily select and induct members of a population to serve in the armed forces.
To transfer by draft.
