draught

[draft, drahft]

noun

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

2. Chiefly British.,  draft.

verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly British.,  draft.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British.,  draft.

adjective

1. Chiefly British.,  draft.

draught

/ 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

Pronunciation Note

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of draught¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of draught¹

C14: probably from Old Norse drahtr, of Germanic origin; related to _draw

Example Sentences

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

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From down in the fairway, it resembles a giant draught excluder, skirting the back of the tee and adjacent 18th green.

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A community group is helping struggling households overcome high energy bills through a series of simple measures to stop draughts and improve insulation.

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The spokesperson added the government it also "cutting alcohol duty on draught pints and capping corporation tax".

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He explained a strong draught in the boulder filled passage at the end of the original network of caves had inspired him to delve deeper.

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Related Words

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