Pre-lasting is a process of initial, rough lasting of shoe uppers, stiffeners, or linings over lasts in order to begin shaping them to final form. The uppers are then removed and lasted at a later stage. Pre-lasting makes lasting easier and helps avoid tearing or overstraining.
Terminology isn’t entirely consistent, but “pre-lasting” is often used differently than drafting, which describes the initial pulls on the upper during the lasting process.