Draught

Draught is the British English spelling of draft and has several distinct meanings. A common sense is a current of air that moves through a space, often caused by ventilation or temperature differences, such as a breeze entering under a door or around windows. Drafts can create cooling air in warm weather or uncomfortable cold spots in winter, and measures like sealants or draft excluders are used to reduce them. The term also encompasses the act of drawing air or liquids through something, as in a draught of air or a draught of water.

In the realm of beverages, draught refers to beer or ale served from a keg or cask rather than from a bottle or can. Drinks described as “on draught” are dispensed from a tap and are typically fresher than bottled varieties. In American English, the same concept is usually called draft beer. The word emphasizes how the drink is delivered rather than stored.

Draught can also denote the act of drawing or pulling, particularly by a draft animal such as a horse or ox, used historically for heavy loads or farm work. Additionally, in games, draughts is the British term for the board game known as checkers in American English.

Etymology traces draught to Old English and Middle English forms of drag or draw, reflecting the core idea of drawing air or liquid. Today, spelling differences mainly correspond to regional usage, with draught common in the UK and draft preferred in the US.