draught

IPA/drɑːft/

KK[drˈæft]IPA/dræft/

draughtpositive
draughtercomparative
draughtestsuperlative

1.adjectiveB2

Definition

describes beer or other alcoholic drinks that are kept in a barrel and poured from it using a tap, rather than being sold in a sealed bottle or can

Example

The new pub in town serves draught beer from three local breweries.

collocation: draught beer

Jabari prefers draught cider because it has a fresher taste than bottled cider.

contrast: draught vs bottled

Common collocations

draught beer
draught cider
draught ale
draught lager
draught stout

Synonyms

tap
used as an adjective in 'tap beer' or 'on tap', more common in American English
barrel
focuses on the storage container rather than the serving method

Antonyms

bottled
beer sold in a sealed glass bottle
canned
beer sold in a sealed metal can

Grammar Patterns

draught + noun (beer, cider, ale, lager, stout)

Usage Note

This sense is spelled 'draft' in American English, where 'draft beer' is the standard term. Only used before a noun (attributive).

Common Mistakes

I ordered a draught.' (when meaning a glass of beer)

I ordered a pint of draught beer.

'draught' alone is not a countable noun for a serving; say 'a draught beer' or 'beer on draught'.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

describes an animal that is trained and used to pull carts, ploughs, or other heavy equipment over the ground

Example

Farmers in the region still use draught horses to plough the steep hillside fields.

collocation: draught horses

The village museum has a collection of old harnesses once used for draught oxen.

collocation: draught oxen

Common collocations

draught horse
draught ox
draught animal
draught mule
draught camel

Synonyms

work
as in 'workhorse' or 'working animal', a more general and common term
beast of burden
a formal or literary term for any animal that carries or pulls loads

Grammar Patterns

draught + animal noun (horse, ox, mule, camel)

Usage Note

Spelled 'draft' in American English ('draft horse', 'draft animal'). The noun form 'draught' with this meaning (the act of pulling) is now archaic in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The driver draught the cart.

The driver used a draught horse to pull the cart.

'draught' is an adjective, not a verb.

draughtsingular
draughtsplural

1.nounB1

Definition

a narrow stream of cold air that moves into a room, vehicle, or other enclosed space, often making people feel chilly or uncomfortable

Example

A cold draught blew through the gap under the front door.

Jisoo felt a draught on her neck and saw the train window was not closed.

common context: vehicle draught

Common collocations

cold draught
feel a draught
block a draught
stop a draught
draught excluder

Synonyms

draft
American English spelling of the same word
current of air
a neutral, factual term that can describe any directed airflow
breeze
a gentle, usually pleasant wind, typically outdoors; milder than a draught

Grammar Patterns

a + draught + of + noun (air, wind)

feel a draught

block a draught

Usage Note

The most common everyday sense of 'draught'. In US English it is spelled 'draft'. Often modified by 'cold', 'cool', 'nasty', or 'chilly'. A 'draught excluder' is a long fabric tube placed at the bottom of a door to block airflow.

Common Mistakes

There is a draught outside today.

There is a draught coming from under the door.

'draught' refers to indoor airflow only, not outdoor wind.

2.nounB2

Definition

the depth of the part of a boat that sits below the surface of the water, which determines the minimum water depth the boat can sail through without hitting the bottom

Example

The ferry has a shallow draught so it can dock at small island ports.

collocation: shallow draught

This canal is only deep enough for boats whose draught is less than two metres.

pattern: draught of + measurement

Common collocations

shallow draught
deep draught
draught of two metres
ship's draught
vessel's draught

Synonyms

draft
standard spelling in American and international nautical English

Grammar Patterns

a + draught + of + number + metres/feet

deep/shallow draught

Usage Note

In both British and American English, this sense is commonly spelled 'draft' in nautical writing. 'Deep-draught' and 'shallow-draught' are used as compound adjectives before nouns: 'a shallow-draught vessel'.

Common Mistakes

The draught of the boat is the height above water.

The draught of the boat is the depth below water.

'draught' measures underwater depth, not height above the surface.

3.nounB2

Definition

a way of keeping beer or cider in a large barrel and pouring it through a tap when someone orders it, rather than selling it in individual bottles or cans

Example

This rich stout is only available on draught, not in cans or bottles.

key phrase: on draught

Lakshmi ordered a pint of bitter from the draught taps behind the bar.

Common collocations

on draught
draught beer
draught tap
available on draught
serve from draught

Synonyms

on tap
the more common American English equivalent; also used in British English informally

Antonyms

bottled
beer sold in a sealed bottle
canned
beer sold in a sealed metal can

Grammar Patterns

on draught

from draught

available on draught

Usage Note

Always used in the fixed phrase 'on draught' (or 'on draft' in US English) to describe a drink served from a barrel. Do not say 'in draught' or 'from draught' — the correct preposition is 'on'.

Common Mistakes

Do you have draught?' (when asking for beer)

Do you have any beer on draught?

'draught' is not a countable noun for the drink itself; use the phrase 'on draught'.

4.nounB2

Definition

a board game played by two people on a square board divided into 64 smaller squares, where each player has twelve flat round pieces and moves them diagonally forward to capture the opponent's pieces

Example

Anya and Hassan played a game of draughts by the fireplace on rainy afternoons.

common pattern: play a game of draughts

Hassan captured three of Anya's pieces in one move and won the draughts match easily.

Common collocations

play draughts
game of draughts
set of draughts
draughts board
draughts piece

Synonyms

checkers
the American English name for the same game

Grammar Patterns

play draughts

game of draughts

a set of draughts

Usage Note

In British English the game is called 'draughts' (treated as singular: 'Draughts is a simple game to learn'). In American English the same game is called 'checkers'. A single piece is called 'a draught' or 'a draughts piece'.

Common Mistakes

Draughts are fun to play.

Draughts is fun to play.

The name of the game is treated as singular, like 'chess'.

5.nounC1

Definition

the action of drinking liquid in a single continuous movement from lips to throat; the amount of liquid taken into the mouth and swallowed at one time

Example

After the long run, Ari drank a long draught of cold water from the fountain.

pattern: a draught of + liquid

Élise took a deep draught of the hot soup and burned her tongue slightly.

collocation: take a deep draught

Common collocations

long draught
deep draught
quick draught
in one draught
take a draught of

Synonyms

swallow
the general term; less literary than 'draught'
gulp
a large or hasty swallow; more informal than 'draught'
mouthful
focuses on the amount of liquid held in the mouth

Grammar Patterns

a + draught + of + liquid noun

in one draught

take a draught

Usage Note

This sense is chiefly British and is somewhat formal or literary. In everyday conversation, 'swallow', 'gulp', or 'mouthful' are more common. 'Draught' in this sense often implies drinking eagerly or thirstily.

6.nounC1

Definition

a liquid medicine that is swallowed, especially one that has a specific purpose such as helping a person sleep or easing a cough

Example

The pharmacist prepared a sleeping draught for the patient who could not rest.

common collocation: sleeping draught

Hassan swallowed the bitter herbal draught and made a face at the taste.

Common collocations

sleeping draught
cough draught
herbal draught
bitter draught
draught of medicine

Synonyms

liquid medicine
the modern, neutral term
syrup
specifically a sweetened liquid medicine, often for coughs
mixture
a liquid medicine made by mixing ingredients, common in British pharmacy

Grammar Patterns

sleeping draught

cough draught

a draught of medicine

Usage Note

This sense is now mainly found in historical fiction, old recipes, or literary works. In modern medical contexts, 'liquid medicine', 'syrup', or 'mixture' are the usual terms. 'Sleeping draught' is the most common surviving use.

Idioms

on draught

idiom

Served from a large container like a barrel, not from a bottle or can.

The pub serves a local ale on draught every Friday.

Do you have any cider on draught tonight?

Word family

draughts
nounB2
draughty
adjectiveB2
draught excluder
nounC1
draughtboard
nounC1
draughtsman
nounC1
draft (US spelling)
nounB1
drafty (US spelling)
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all three describe moving air, they differ in feel and setting. A draught (or 'draft' in US English) is a narrow, often uncomfortable stream of cold air entering a warm indoor space — it is usually unwanted and can make people feel chilly. A breeze is a gentle, pleasant wind felt primarily outdoors, typically mild or warm, and is generally considered enjoyable. A current of air is a neutral, factual term for any directed airflow, whether indoors or out, without implying comfort or discomfort. For example: 'I closed the window because I felt a cold draught on my neck.' A light breeze from the sea made the afternoon pleasant.' 'The air conditioning creates a steady current of air across the room.' Choosing the right word depends on whether the air is indoors or outdoors, and whether you want to express comfort or discomfort.

draught (draft)breeze ↗current of air

Common collocations

Nouns

draught beer
draught horse
draught animal
draught excluder
draughts board
draughts piece
draught tap

Phrases

feel a draught
block a draught
on draught
in one draught
take a draught of
play draughts
game of draughts

Prepositions

on draught
from the draught

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Draught comes from Old English 'dreaht' or 'dræht', which originally meant 'something that is pulled or drawn'. It is closely related to the verb 'draw'. The idea behind many modern senses is that something is 'drawn' or pulled: air is drawn through a space (cold draught), a boat sits at a certain depth (it 'draws' a certain amount of water), and beer is drawn from a barrel (draught beer). The American English spelling 'draft' emerged in the 18th century as the pronunciation shifted, while British English kept the older spelling 'draught'.

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draught

draught — adjective

1. describes beer or other alcoholic drinks that are kept in a barrel and poured fr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. describes an animal that is trained and used to pull carts, ploughs, or other he

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

draught — noun

1. a narrow stream of cold air that moves into a room, vehicle, or other enclosed s

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the depth of the part of a boat that sits below the surface of the water, which

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a way of keeping beer or cider in a large barrel and pouring it through a tap wh

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. a board game played by two people on a square board divided into 64 smaller squa

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. the action of drinking liquid in a single continuous movement from lips to throa

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

6. a liquid medicine that is swallowed, especially one that has a specific purpose

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

on draught

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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