draught

American  

[draft, drahft] / dræft, drɑft /

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) draughts, the game of checkers.

2. Chiefly British. draft.

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly British. draft.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British. draft.

adjective

1. Chiefly British. draft.

draught British  

/ drɑːft /

noun

1. a current of air, esp one intruding into an enclosed space

2. 1. the act of pulling a load, as by a vehicle or animal

   2. ( as modifier )

      a draught horse

3. the load or quantity drawn

4. a portion of liquid to be drunk, esp a dose of medicine

5. the act or an instance of drinking; a gulp or swallow

6. the act or process of drawing air, smoke, etc, into the lungs

7. the amount of air, smoke, etc, inhaled in one breath

8. 1. beer, wine, etc, stored in bulk, esp in a cask, as opposed to being bottled

   2. ( as modifier )

      draught beer

   3. drawn from a cask or keg

9. US and Canadian equivalent: checker.  Also called: draughtsman.  any one of the 12 flat thick discs used by each player in the game of draughts

10. the depth of a loaded vessel in the water, taken from the level of the waterline to the lowest point of the hull

11. to be short of money

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Pronunciation

Draught is a variant spelling of draft and is normally pronounced the same way, as or or with a vowel somewhere between and . A pronunciation is sometimes heard for draught, perhaps because -aught is frequently pronounced elsewhere, as in caught and taught.

Other Word Forms

• draughter noun
• underdraught noun

Etymology

Origin of draught

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English draht (cognate with Dutch dracht, German Tracht, Old Norse drāttr ); akin to Old English dragan “to plug, drag, draw,” drōht “a pull (at the oars)”; draw

Example Sentences

About 1,800 pubs across Britain ceased stocking Brewdog draught beers.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

It featured a female panther resting its paws on a severed head, and was probably attached to the body of a carriage or wagon or to the yoke, which hitched draught animals to the vehicle.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Limit heat loss by using draught excluders to block gaps under doors or around windows.

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025

It said it plans to cut the cost of licensing, extend business rates relief and cut alcohol duty on draught pints.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

"My lady, is there aught I might do for you? A sleep-ing draught, perhaps?"

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• application
• dosage
• lot
• measure
• measurement
• prescription
• quantity
• shot