From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Protract \Pro*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr.
vb. n. Protracting.] [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to
forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See
Portrait, Portray.]
1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to
continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to
protract a war.
[1913 Webster]
2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to
protract a decision or duty. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and
angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Zool.) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract
its claws; -- opposed to retract.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Protract \Pro*tract"\, n. [L. protractus.]
Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]