Sheer \Sheer\, n.
   1. (Naut.)
      (a) The longitudinal upward curvature of the deck,
          gunwale, and lines of a vessel, as when viewed from
          the side.
      (b) The position of a vessel riding at single anchor and
          swinging clear of it.
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   2. A turn or change in a course.
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            Give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore.
                                                  --Cooper.
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   3. pl. Shears See Shear.
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   Sheer batten (Shipbuilding), a long strip of wood to guide
      the carpenters in following the sheer plan.

   Sheer boom, a boom slanting across a stream to direct
      floating logs to one side.

   Sheer hulk. See Shear hulk, under Hulk.

   Sheer plan, or Sheer draught (Shipbuilding), a projection
      of the lines of a vessel on a vertical longitudinal plane
      passing through the middle line of the vessel.

   Sheer pole (Naut.), an iron rod lashed to the shrouds just
      above the dead-eyes and parallel to the ratlines.

   Sheer strake (Shipbuilding), the strake under the gunwale
      on the top side. --Totten.

   To break sheer (Naut.), to deviate from sheer, and risk
      fouling the anchor.
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Draught \Draught\, n. [The same as draft, the spelling with gh
   indicating an older pronunciation. See Draft, n., Draw.]
   1. The act of drawing or pulling; as:
      (a) The act of moving loads by drawing, as by beasts of
          burden, and the like.
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                A general custom of using oxen for all sort of
                draught would be, perhaps, the greatest
                improvement.                      --Sir W.
                                                  Temple.
      (b) The drawing of a bowstring. [Obs.]
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                She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught.
                                                  --Spenser.
      (c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
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                Upon the draught of a pond, not one fish was
                left.                             --Sir M. Hale.
      (d) The act of drawing liquor into the mouth and throat;
          the act of drinking.
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                In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the
                draught forbore.                  --Trench.
      (e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
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                By drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when
                he looketh not for you.           --Spenser.
      (f) (Mil.) The act of selecting or detaching soldiers; a
          draft (see Draft, n., 2)
      (g) The act of drawing up, marking out, or delineating;
          representation. --Dryden.
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   2. That which is drawn; as:
      (a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
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                Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
                for a draught.                    --Luke v. 4.
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                He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which
                brought him a very great draught. --L'Estrange.
      (b) (Mil.) The force drawn; a detachment; -- in this sense
          usually written draft.
      (c) The quantity drawn in at once in drinking; a potion or
          potation.
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                Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, .
                . . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne.
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                Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts
                inspired.                         --Goldsmith.
      (d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written,
          designed, or drawn; a delineation.
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                A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the
                Parliament by a private member.   --Macaulay.
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                No picture or draught of these things from the
                report of the eye.                --South.
      (e) (Com.) An order for the payment of money; -- in this
          sense almost always written draft.
      (f) A current of air moving through an inclosed place, as
          through a room or up a chimney. --Thackeray.
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                He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in .
                . . a strong draught of air, until he was again
                sent for.                         --Dickens.
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   3. That which draws; as:
      (a) A team of oxen or horses. --Blackstone.
      (b) A sink or drain; a privy. --Shak. --Matt. xv. 17.
      (c) pl. (Med.) A mild vesicatory; a sinapism; as, to apply
          draughts to the feet.
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   4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw;
      traction.
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            The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest
            draught.                              --Mortimer.
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   5. (Naut.) The depth of water necessary to float a ship, or
      the depth a ship sinks in water, especially when laden;
      as, a ship of twelve feet draught.
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   6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See
      Draft, 4.
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   7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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   8. The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, in order
      that it may be drawn from the sand without injury to the
      mold.
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   9. (Masonry) See Draft, n., 7.
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   Angle of draught, the angle made with the plane over which
      a body is drawn by the line in which the pulling force
      acts, when the latter has the direction best adapted to
      overcome the obstacles of friction and the weight of the
      body.

   Black draught. See under Black, a.

   Blast draught, or Forced draught, the draught produced by
      a blower, as by blowing in air beneath a fire or drawing
      out the gases from above it.

   Natural draught, the draught produced by the atmosphere
      flowing, by its own weight, into a chimney wherein the air
      is rarefied by heat.

   On draught, so as to be drawn from the wood (as a cask,
      barrel, etc.) in distinction from being bottled; as, ale
      on draught.

   Sheer draught. See under Sheer.
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