Lag of the tide, the interval by which the time of high water falls
behind the mean time, in the first and third quarters of the moon; --
opposed to priming of the tide, or the acceleration of the time of high
water, in the second and fourth quarters; depending on the relative
positions of the sun and moon. -- Lag screw, an iron bolt with a square
head, a sharp-edged thread, and a sharp point, adapted for screwing
into wood; a screw for fastening lags.
Lag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lagging (?).] To
walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind; to linger or loiter. "I
shall not lag behind." Milton.
Syn. -- To loiter; linger; saunter; delay; be tardy.
Lag, v. t. 1. To cause to lag; to slacken. [Obs.] "To lag his flight."
Heywood.
2. (Mach.) To cover, as the cylinder of a steam engine, with lags. See
Lag, n., 4.