Defn: The quality of being tractile; ductility. Derham.
TRACTION
Trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. trahere, tractum, to draw: cf. F. traction.]
1. The act of drawing, or the state of being drawn; as, the traction of a muscle.
2. Specifically, the act of drawing a body along a plane by motive power, as the drawing of a carriage by men or horses, the towing of a boat by a tug.
3. Attraction; a drawing toward. [R.]
4. The adhesive friction of a wheel on a rail, a rope on a pulley, or the like. Knight. Angle of traction (Mech.), the angle made with a given plane by the line of direction in which a tractive force acts. — Traction engine, a locomotive for drawing vehicles on highways or in the fields.
TRACTIONAL
Trac"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to traction.
TRACTION WHEEL Traction wheel. (Mach.) (a) A locomotive driving wheel which acts by friction adhesion to a smooth track. (b) A smooth-rimmed friction wheel for giving motion to an endless link belt or the like.
TRACTITE
Tract"ite, n.