What is "to drop a vessel"

Drop \Drop\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Droppedor Dropt; p. pr. & vb. n. Dropping.] [OE. droppen, AS. dropan, v. i. See Drop, n.]

1. To pour or let fall in drops; to pour in small globules; to distill. ``The trees drop balsam.''
   --Creech.

   The recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.
   --Sterne.

2. To cause to fall in one portion, or by one motion, like a drop; to let fall; as, to drop a line in fishing; to drop a courtesy.

3. To let go; to dismiss; to set aside; to have done with; to discontinue; to forsake; to give up; to omit.

   They suddenly drop't the pursuit.
   --S. Sharp.

   That astonishing ease with which fine ladies drop you and pick you up again.
   --Thackeray.

   The connection had been dropped many years. -- Sir W. Scott.

   Dropping the too rough H in Hell and Heaven.
   --Tennyson.

4. To bestow or communicate by a suggestion; to let fall in an indirect, cautious, or gentle manner; as, to drop hint, a word of counsel, etc.

5. To lower, as a curtain, or the muzzle of a gun, etc.

6. To send, as a letter; as, please drop me a line, a letter, word.

7. To give birth to; as, to drop a lamb.

8. To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop.

   Show to the sun their waved coats dropped with gold.
   --Milton.

   To drop a vessel (Naut.), to leave it astern in a race or a chase; to outsail it.