Dictionary

draught en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /dɹɑːft/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɹæft/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /dɹɔt/ (common, nonstandard) in the 16–18th centuries
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English draught, draght, draȝt, from Old English *dreaht, *dræht (related to dragan (“to draw, drag”)), from Proto-Germanic *drahtuz, noun form of *draganą; equivalent to draw + -t.

Meanings

1. (UK, alt-of, alternative, not-comparable) Alternative spelling of draft
   alt of draft
   • draught oxen, a draught horse
   • draught beer or cider

draught en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /dɹɑːft/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɹæft/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /dɹɔt/ (common, nonstandard) in the 16–18th centuries
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English draught, draght, draȝt, from Old English *dreaht, *dræht (related to dragan (“to draw, drag”)), from Proto-Germanic *drahtuz, noun form of *draganą; equivalent to draw + -t.

Meanings

1. (UK, alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of draft in some of its senses.
   alt of draft in some of its senses
   • Finally I gave him a draught, and he sank into uneasy slumber. 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 35”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
   • […]he sayde vnto Simon: Cary vs into the depe, and lett slippe thy nett to make a draught. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke:
   • “Drink and pass!” he cried, handing the heavy charged flagon to the nearest seaman. “The crew alone now drink. Round with it, round! Short draughts—long swallows, men; ’tis hot as Satan’s hoof. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 36”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
   • All the L.N.E.R. Clyde vessels are paddle-propelled, because of the shallow draught at Craigendoran Pier. 1946 July and August, “Notes and News: The War Effect on the Clyde Steamers”, in Railway Magazine, page 324:
   • Much as I wish that I had not to write this chapter, I know that I shall have to swallow many such bitter draughts in the course of this narrative. And I cannot do otherwise, if I claim to be a worshipper of Truth. […] 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter iii
   • She could feel a draught where she was sitting.
   • A standard type of donkey jacket made of white milled flannel is being introduced by British Railways for the use of staff working in tunnels where there are conditions of extreme cold, dampness and draught. 1953 November, “Notes and News: New Clothing for Tunnel Workers”, in Railway Magazine, page 783:
2. (UK, countable, uncountable) A checker: a game piece used in the game of draughts.
3. (Australia, countable, uncountable) Ale: a type of beer brewed using top-fermenting yeast.
4. (UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable) A mild vesicatory.
5. (UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable) An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
   • Then sayde Jesus: are ye yett withoute understondinge? perceave ye not, that whatsoever goeth in at the mouth, descendeth doune into the bely, and ys cast out into the draught? 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew:
   • Rid me these Villaines from your companies; / Hang them, or stab them, drowne them in a draught, / Confound them by some course, and come to me, / Ile giue you Gold enough. c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
6. (UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable) Any picture or drawing.
   • And therefore, for the whole process, and full representation, there must be more than one draught; the one representing him in station, the other in session, another in genuflexion. 1650, Thomas Browne, chapter V, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 22:
7. (UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable) A sudden attack upon an enemy.
   • drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when he looketh not for you 1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

draughtsman · deep draught · draughts · draughtman · withdraught · through-draught · draught net · love draught · draughtproof · draughtless · beast of draught · draught animal · draught-free · draughtswoman · draught screen · draught excluder · morning draught · draughtboard · black draught · draught engine · draught-house · draughtsperson · at a draught · draught horse · banker's draught · backdraught · overdraught · draught hook · draught house · draught on the pump at Aldgate · draught-bar · draughter · updraught · sleeping draught · draught on Aldgate pump · draughty

Relateds

draw

Synonyms

checker (game piece) · draught-house (outhouse)

Translations (24)

hu bábu (game piece) · it pedina (game piece) · pl pion (game piece) · ca dama (game piece) · cs kámen (game piece) · mi kai (game piece) · io piono (game piece) · ota مهره (game piece) · pl bierka (game piece) · pl pionek (game piece) · pl warcab (game piece) · sco draucht (game piece) · mi perepere (game piece) · ga fear táiplise (bige) (game piece) · pt peça (de damas) (game piece) · sv bricka (game piece) · fi nappula (game piece) · es dama (game piece) · bg пул (game piece) · de Spielstein (game piece) · bg шашки (game piece) · el πούλι (game piece) · ru ша́шка (game piece) · izh šaška (game piece)

draught en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɹɑːft/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɹæft/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /dɹɔt/ (common, nonstandard) in the 16–18th centuries
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English draught, draght, draȝt, from Old English *dreaht, *dræht (related to dragan (“to draw, drag”)), from Proto-Germanic *drahtuz, noun form of *draganą; equivalent to draw + -t.

Meanings

1. (UK, alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of draft.
   alt of draft
   • The Parliament so often draughted and drained. 1826, [Walter Scott], Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, →OCLC:

Forms