n. & v. (US draft)
n. 1 a current of air in a confined space (e.g. a room or chimney). 2 pulling, traction. 3 Naut. the depth of water needed to float a ship. 4 the drawing of liquor from a cask etc. 5 a a single act of drinking. b the amount drunk in this. c a dose of liquid medicine. 6 (in pl.; usu. treated as sing.) Brit. a game for two played with 12 pieces each on a draughtboard. 7 a the drawing in of a fishing-net. b the fish taken at one drawing. 8 = DRAFT.
v.tr. = DRAFT. draught beer beer drawn from a cask, not bottled. draught-horse a horse used for pulling heavy loads, esp. a cart or plough. feel the draught colloq. suffer from adverse (usu. financial) conditions.
[ ME draht, perh. f. ON drahtr, dr ttr f. Gmc, rel. to DRAW ]