What is "to draw to a head"

Draw \Draw\, v. i.

1. To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to move anything by pulling; as, a horse draws well; the sails of a ship draw well.

   Note: A sail is said to draw when it is filled with wind.

2. To draw a liquid from some receptacle, as water from a well.

   The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.
   --John iv. 11.

3. To exert an attractive force; to act as an inducement or enticement.

   Keep a watch upon the particular bias of their minds, that it may not draw too much.
   --Addison.

4. (Med.) To have efficiency as an epispastic; to act as a sinapism; -- said of a blister, poultice, etc.

5. To have draught, as a chimney, flue, or the like; to furnish transmission to smoke, gases, etc.

6. To unsheathe a weapon, especially a sword.

   So soon as ever thou seest him, draw; and as thou drawest, swear horrible.
   --Shak.

7. To perform the act, or practice the art, of delineation; to sketch; to form figures or pictures. ``Skill in drawing.''
   --Locke.

8. To become contracted; to shrink. ``To draw into less room.''
   --Bacon.

9. To move; to come or go; literally, to draw one's self; -- with prepositions and adverbs; as, to draw away, to move off, esp. in racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire or retreat; to draw on, to advance; to draw up, to form in array; to draw near, draw nigh, or draw towards, to approach; to draw together, to come together, to collect.

10. To make a draft or written demand for payment of money deposited or due; -- usually with on or upon.

    You may draw on me for the expenses of your journey.
    --Jay.

11. To admit the action of pulling or dragging; to undergo draught; as, a carriage draws easily.

12. To sink in water; to require a depth for floating. ``Greater hulks draw deep.'' --Shak. To draw to a head.

    1. (Med.) To begin to suppurate; to ripen, as a boil.

    2. Fig.: To ripen, to approach the time for action; as, the plot draws to a head.