draw v [phonetics unavailable]. Cp OED ~ v 34 b 'to obtain or select by lot' for sense 1; for cpd in sense 4: EDD draw-latch v 3; EDD draw 3: drying (So) for the pronunciation dry up common in several localities; for comb in sense 4: EDD draw v 28 (11) ~ bucket Co.
   1 In the inshore fishery, to secure a fishing location or 'berth' by lot in competition with others.
   [(1862)] 1877 TOCQUE 294 The proprietors of the vessels of these various classes draw lots every five years for the right of occupying the various fishing settlements on the coast; the best numbers select the best fishing posts, and so on to the least advantageous. 1936 SMITH 148 The other men knew all this, and were in a great hurry so that I couldn't secure the berths; the excitement ran very high, and finally they came to me and asked if I were satisfied to draw for the trap-berths. 1979 Evening Telegram 6 Mar, p. 2 With regard to the trap berth drawing, noting that the fishermen must draw for their berths in accordance with guide-lines drawn up by the federal fisheries department...
   2 Proverb: you can draw [fish] by the head, but you must drag by the tail (1895 Christmas Review 12).
   3 Phr draw a blank: see BLANK n.
   draw the spile: to imbibe.
   1891 Holly Branch 15 Spruce beer, free to all who cared to draw the spile, and calabogus the universal beverage.
   draw/dry up [phonetics unavailable]: to pull fish to the surface in a net or trap; HAUL v.
   1927 Christmas Messenger 48 The 'Bunt' of seine is the more closely and strong-knitted part where the fish are collected [when] the seine is 'dried up.' T 43-64 If the fish was runnin' good, you'd dry up thirty, forty, fifty quintals. T 158-65 Look down an' see the fish, an' you take the bunt an' heave [him] overboard an' go on round, sweep it, then dry un up. M 68-16 When the skiff gets to the trap, the haul-up ropes are hooked and the doorways shut off. After this the back of the trap is pulled closer to the boat and the crew begins drying up the twine. By drying up is meant that the bottom is brought nearer the surface by hauling the twine into the boat. In this way the fish are brought to the surface also.
   4 Comb draw-bucket, drawing- ~ : container to draw water from a well, or from the salt-water to boat or stage; also attrib.
   1936 SMITH 77 After a meal all hands seemed refreshed, and we started off again for Drawbucket Tickle. 1944 Yuletide Bells 'Fetch the pumps,' commanded the skipper. Someone already had the drawbucket over the side when he spoke. T 146-65 He was drawin' up water for 'em in the hold [to] wash out the locker. He hove the drawbucket an' the drawbucket took un overboard. C 70-15 Every household had a well which was equipped with a draw-bucket (a bucket with a long rope attached to the handle) ... The water was poured from the draw-bucket into a pair of galvanized water buckets used for carrying the water from the well to the house. 1979 Salt Water, Fresh Water 21 They finally got a drawing bucket, hauled up some salt water, and threw it in his face and brought him around.
   draw-latch v: to loiter (1937 DEVINE 19).
   C 71-31 Oftentimes when we are taking our time in doing something that we should do more quickly my grandmother says 'Don't be draw-latchin'. ' By this she means that we should make more haste and avoid killing time.

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