noun
Nautical term for the depth of a ship's keel below the waterline.
この船の喫水は10メートルです。
This ship has a draft of 10 meters.
喫水が深い船は浅い港に入れない。
Ships with a deep draft cannot enter shallow ports.
喫水線 is the waterline or Plimsoll line marked on a ship's hull, while 喫水 refers to the draft depth itself.
Compound of 喫 (eat/drink, here used in the sense of 'take in') and 水 (water), referring to the depth of water a ship 'takes in' or displaces. The variant 吃水 uses a character with similar meaning.