draft

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a dose of liquid medicine

   I had to take a sleeping draft.

2. 2
   noun

   any of the various versions in the development of a written work

   a preliminary draft

3. 3
   noun

   a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

   they served beer on draft

4. 4
   verb

   draw up an outline or sketch for something

   draft a speech

5. 5
   noun

   The quantity of liquid (such as water, alcohol, or medicine) drunk in one swallow.

   to drink at a draft

6. 6
   noun

   Liquid, especially beer or other alcohol, drawn from a cask or keg rather than a bottle or can.

   From 1767 to 1774 no pale wine was bottled but for immediate use; only draft wine of all kinds was used in the principal taverns, and it was often very bad, not from tricks of the vintners, but from bad management.

7. 7
   noun

   A version of a written work (such as a book or paper) or drawing.

   I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.

8. 8
   noun

   Conscription; the system of forcing people to serve in the military.

   He left the country to avoid the draft.

Etymology

A phonetic spelling of draught (compare laughter), from Middle English draught, draght (“that which is pulled; that which is drawn up, a design”), from Old English *dreaht, *dræht, from Proto-West Germanic *drahti, *drahtu, from Proto-Germanic *drahtuz (“a pulling, drawing”). Cognate with Dutch dracht, German Tracht, Icelandic dráttur. By surface analysis, draw + -t.