Draught

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. [1913 Webster]

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.] [1913 Webster]

She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught. --Spenser. (c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the draught forbore. --Trench. (e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

2. That which is drawn; as: (a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net. [1913 Webster]

Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. --Luke v. 4. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, . . . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne. [1913 Webster]

Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired. --Goldsmith. (d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written, designed, or drawn; a delineation. [1913 Webster]

A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the Parliament by a private member. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in . . . a strong draught of air, until he was again sent for. --Dickens. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw; traction. [1913 Webster]

The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest draught. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See {Draft}, 4. [1913 Webster]

7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

9. (Masonry) See {Draft}, n., 7. [1913 Webster]

{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}. [1913 Webster]