noun
draft
The vertical distance from a vessel's waterline to its lowest point.
The boat's shallow draft lets it navigate water near the shore.
Etymology
The older word concerns drawing. A vessel’s draft developed from how much water it draws, naming the depth of hull that sits below the waterline.
More examples
- Loading more cargo increases the ship's draft.
- The harbor admits vessels with drafts of up to twenty feet.
- Check the boat's draft before entering the shallow channel.
Forms
draft · drafts
Similar words
- depth
- Measures vertical distance generally, not specifically a vessel's submerged extent.