from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Draught \Draught\, n. [The same as draft, the spelling with gh
indicating an older pronunciation. See {Draft}, n., {Draw}.]
1. The act of drawing or pulling; as:
(a) The act of moving loads by drawing, as by beasts of
burden, and the like.
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A general custom of using oxen for all sort of
draught would be, perhaps, the greatest
improvement. --Sir W.
Temple.
(b) The drawing of a bowstring. [Obs.]
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She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught.
--Spenser.
(c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
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Upon the draught of a pond, not one fish was
left. --Sir M. Hale.
(d) The act of drawing liquor into the mouth and throat;
the act of drinking.
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In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the
draught forbore. --Trench.
(e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
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By drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when
he looketh not for you. --Spenser.
(f) (Mil.) The act of selecting or detaching soldiers; a
draft (see {Draft}, n., 2)
(g) The act of drawing up, marking out, or delineating;
representation. --Dryden.
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2. That which is drawn; as:
(a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
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Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
for a draught. --Luke v. 4.
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He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which
brought him a very great draught. --L'Estrange.
(b) (Mil.) The force drawn; a detachment; -- in this sense
usually written draft.
(c) The quantity drawn in at once in drinking; a potion or
potation.
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Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, .
. . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne.
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Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts
inspired. --Goldsmith.
(d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written,
designed, or drawn; a delineation.
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A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the
Parliament by a private member. --Macaulay.
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No picture or draught of these things from the
report of the eye. --South.
(e) (Com.) An order for the payment of money; -- in this
sense almost always written draft.
(f) A current of air moving through an inclosed place, as
through a room or up a chimney. --Thackeray.
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He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in .
. . a strong draught of air, until he was again
sent for. --Dickens.
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3. That which draws; as:
(a) A team of oxen or horses. --Blackstone.
(b) A sink or drain; a privy. --Shak. --Matt. xv. 17.
(c) pl. (Med.) A mild vesicatory; a sinapism; as, to apply
draughts to the feet.
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4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw;
traction.
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The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest
draught. --Mortimer.
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5. (Naut.) The depth of water necessary to float a ship, or
the depth a ship sinks in water, especially when laden;
as, a ship of twelve feet draught.
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6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See
{Draft}, 4.
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7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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8. The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, in order
that it may be drawn from the sand without injury to the
mold.
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9. (Masonry) See {Draft}, n., 7.
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{Angle of draught}, the angle made with the plane over which
a body is drawn by the line in which the pulling force
acts, when the latter has the direction best adapted to
overcome the obstacles of friction and the weight of the
body.
{Black draught}. See under {Black}, a.
{Blast draught}, or {Forced draught}, the draught produced by
a blower, as by blowing in air beneath a fire or drawing
out the gases from above it.
{Natural draught}, the draught produced by the atmosphere
flowing, by its own weight, into a chimney wherein the air
is rarefied by heat.
{On draught}, so as to be drawn from the wood (as a cask,
barrel, etc.) in distinction from being bottled; as, ale
on draught.
{Sheer draught}. See under {Sheer}.
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