Drain (drān), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Drained (drānd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Draining.] [AS. drehnigean to drain,
strain; perh. akin to E. draw.] 1. To
draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off; hence, to
cause the exhaustion of.
Fountains drain the water from the ground
adjacent.
Bacon.
But it was not alone that the he drained their
treasure and hampered their industry.
Motley.
2. To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing
them off; to make gradually dry or empty; to remove surface water, as
from streets, by gutters, etc.; to deprive of moisture; hence, to
exhaust; to empty of wealth, resources, or the like; as, to
drain a country of its specie.
Sinking waters, the firm land to drain,
Filled the capacious deep and formed the main.
Roscommon.
3. To filter.
Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of
earth, hath become fresh.
Bacon.
Drain, v. i. 1. To
flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains
off.
2. To become emptied of liquor by flowing or
dropping; as, let the vessel stand and drain.
Drain, n. 1. The
act of draining, or of drawing off; gradual and continuous outflow or
withdrawal; as, the drain of specie from a country.
2. That means of which anything is drained; a
channel; a trench; a water course; a sewer; a sink.
3. pl. The grain from the mashing tub;
as, brewers' drains. [Eng.] Halliwell.
Box drain, Counter drain.
See under Box, Counter. -- Right of
drain (Law), an easement or servitude by which
one man has a right to convey water in pipes through or over the
estate of another. Kent.
