\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.
             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.]
             She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught.
                                               --Spenser.
   (c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
             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.
             In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the
             draught forbore.                  --Trench.
   (e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
             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.
2. That which is drawn; as:
   (a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
             Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
             for a draught.                    --Luke v. 4.
             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.
             Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, .
             . . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne.
             Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts
             inspired.                         --Goldsmith.
   (d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written,
       designed, or drawn; a delineation.
             A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the
             Parliament by a private member.   --Macaulay.
             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.
             He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in .
             . . a strong draught of air, until he was again
             sent for.                         --Dickens.
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.
4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw;
   traction.
         The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest
         draught.                              --Mortimer.
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.
6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See
   {Draft}, 4.
7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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.
9. (Masonry) See {Draft}, n., 7.
{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}.

\Draught\, a.
1. Used for drawing vehicles, loads, etc.; as, a draught
   beast; draught hooks.
2. Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of
   air.
3. Used in making drawings; as, draught compasses.
4. Drawn directly from the barrel, or other receptacle, in
   distinction from bottled; on draught; -- said of ale,
   cider, and the like.
Note: This word, especially in the first and second meanings,
      is often written draft, a spelling which is approved by
      many authorities.
{Draught box}. See {Draught tube}, below.
{Draught engine} (Mining), an engine used for pumping,
   raising heavy weights, and the like.
{Draught hook} (Mil.), one of the hooks on a cannon carriage,
   used in drawing the gun backward and forward.
{Draught horse}, a horse employed in drawing loads, plowing,
   etc., as distinguished from a saddle horse or carriage
   horse.
{Draught net}, a seine or hauling net.
{Draught ox}, an ox employed in hauling loads, plowing, etc.
{Draught tube} (Water Wheels), an air-tight pipe extending
   downward into the tailrace from a turbine wheel located
   above it, to make the whole fall available; -- called also
   {draught box}.

\Draught\ (dr[.a]ft), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Draughted};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Draughting}.]
1. To draw out; to call forth. See {Draft}. --Addison.
2. To diminish or exhaust by drawing. [R.]
         The Parliament so often draughted and drained. --Sir
                                               W. Scott.
3. To draw in outline; to make a draught, sketch, or plan of,
   as in architectural and mechanical drawing.
{Draughting room}, a room draughtsmen to work in, and where
   plans are kept.