US /dræm/ UK /dræm/
noun Freq #40473

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a small measure or drink of an alcoholic spirit, especially whisky

    He poured himself a dram of whisky before bed.

  2. 2
    noun

    a unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of an ounce in the avoirdupois system

    The component weighs less than a dram.

  3. 3
    noun

    the basic monetary unit of Armenia

    The exchange board showed the value of one dram.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a small measure or drink of... measuredrinknip
2 noun · a unit of weight equal to... drachm
Word family
Derived forms dramshop
Related forms drachmadirhamouncewhisky

Etymology

From Middle English dramme, through Old French and Late Latin dragma, from Greek drakhme, 'a handful; a unit of weight.' The small weight gave rise to the sense of a small measure of spirits; the Armenian currency name shares the same ancient source.

Topics

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