draff

American

[draf] / dræf /

noun

dregs, as in a brewing process; lees; refuse.

draff British

/ dræf /

noun

the residue of husks after fermentation of the grain used in brewing, used as a food for cattle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

draffy adjective

Etymology

Origin of draff

1175–1225; Middle English draf; cognate with Icelandic, Dutch draf; akin to Dutch drab ( drab ² ), German Treber draff

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He saw a red heap of seething coals and heard the upward hum of the draff.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

The draff roared upward, droning in his ears.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Then he heard the draff, this time a long low sucking of air that grew gradually to a drone, then a roar.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

“Well, he’s on his way. I called the draff board. I’ll wait for him.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

The draff roared loud now; the air passage was completely clear.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023