draught
B2Predominantly formal or technical; regional (BrE).
Definition
Meaning
A current of cool air moving through an enclosed space.
The act or process of pulling or drawing; the amount taken in one act of drinking or inhaling; the depth of water a ship needs to float; a serving of beer from a cask.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Central senses involve pulling, moving, or drawing (from its Old English root). The 'current of air' sense is primary in everyday BrE. 'Draught' is also a key term in naval architecture, brewing, and games (draughts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'draught' is standard for air current, animal that pulls loads, depth of ship, beer from cask, and the game (draughts). In AmE, 'draft' is used for almost all senses, including the game (checkers). The spelling 'draught' is rare in AmE.
Connotations
In BrE, 'draught' can be negative (a chilly draught) or positive (a pint of draught ale). 'Draught animal' has an archaic/rural feel. In AmE, the 'draft' spelling carries all connotations, with 'beer on draft' being positive.
Frequency
'Draught' is high-frequency in BrE in specific contexts (beer, weather). 'Draft' is far more common in AmE across all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is a [adjective] draught coming from the [noun].The ship has a draught of [number] metres.He took a long draught from his [noun].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Feel the draught (to experience financial or other difficulty)”
- “Down the draught (wasted or lost)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Uncommon, except in shipping ('The vessel's draught limits which ports it can enter').
Academic
Used in engineering (fluid dynamics, naval architecture) and historical texts ('draught animals revolutionised agriculture').
Everyday
Common in BrE for discussing cold air in a room ('Shut the door, there's a draught!') and ordering beer ('Is the lager on draught?').
Technical
Precise term in brewing (beer served from a cask vs. bottled), naval design (the vertical distance between waterline and keel), and livestock (draught horse).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A (The verb is 'to draft').
American English
- N/A (The verb is 'to draft').
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- We installed draught-proofing around the windows.
- He prefers a traditional draught ale.
American English
- N/A (AmE uses 'draft' as in 'draft beer', 'draft horse', 'drafty room').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Close the window, please. I can feel a draught.
- Do you have draught Coke?
- The pub serves several local beers on draught.
- There's a terrible draught coming from under the door.
- The harbour is too shallow for ships with a deep draught.
- He took a deep draught of water after his run.
- Before mechanisation, draught animals were essential for ploughing and transport.
- The architect specified special draught excluders to meet building regulations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A 'draught' of air can make you cough (both have 'augh'), or think of a 'draught horse' PULLING a heavy load.
Conceptual Metaphor
AIR IS A FLUID (a draught 'flows' through a room); DRINKING IS DRAWING/TAKING IN (to take a draught of water).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'черновик' (which is 'draft' in AmE/contextual BrE).
- The Russian 'сквозняк' maps directly to the 'current of air' sense of 'draught'.
- For beer, 'draught beer' is 'разливное пиво', not 'черновое'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling it as 'draft' in a BrE context where 'draught' is required (e.g., 'draught beer').
- Pronouncing the 'gh' (it's silent).
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'to draft').
Practice
Quiz
In American English, which spelling is commonly used for the 'beer from a cask' meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is pronounced identically to 'draft' (/drɑːft/ in BrE, /dræft/ in AmE). 'Drought' (/draʊt/) is a completely different word meaning a long period of dry weather.
Use 'draught' for air currents, beer, animals that pull, ship's depth, and the game (draughts). Use 'draft' for preliminary versions, military conscription, banking orders, and the act of drawing up plans. There is overlap, but 'draught' is more specific.
It is beer served from a cask or keg, typically via a tap, as opposed to bottled or canned beer. It is often (but not always) unpasteurised and may have a different taste and texture.
No. The related verb for all senses is 'to draft' (to draw up plans, to conscript, to select). 'Draught' is a noun or adjective.
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