noun
dram
dram
Dram (noun) means a small measure or drink of liquor, especially whisky. Example: “He poured himself a dram of whisky before bed.”
noun
1
A small measure or drink of liquor, especially whisky.
"He poured himself a dram of whisky before bed."
"Come in out of the cold and have a wee dram."
2
A unit of weight or fluid measure, historically about 1/16 of an ounce.
"The old recipe called for two drams of tincture."
verb
1
To drink drams of liquor, or to treat someone to one.
"The old sailors would dram together every Friday night."
How to use dram
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small drink, especially of whisky, or an old-fashioned tiny unit of weight.
When to use it
The drinking sense is especially common in Scottish and Irish English.
Common pairings
a wee dram
a dram of whisky
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Word forms
- Plural
- drams
- Third person singular
- drams
- Past tense
- drammed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He poured himself a _____ of whisky before bed.
Etymology
From Old French drame, going back through Late Latin to Ancient Greek drakhmē, "a handful" or unit of weight — the same root that gives us "drachma."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dram
See all rhymes for dram →Frequently asked questions
What does “dram” mean?
The word “dram” means a small measure or drink of liquor, especially whisky. In plain terms, a small drink, especially of whisky, or an old-fashioned tiny unit of weight.
How do you pronounce “dram”?
“Dram” is pronounced dram (/dɹæm/ in IPA).
How do you use “dram” in a sentence?
Here is “dram” used in a sentence: “He poured himself a dram of whisky before bed.”
What part of speech is “dram”?
Depending on how it is used, “dram” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dram” come from?
The word “dram” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French drame, going back through Late Latin to Ancient Greek drakhmē, "a handful" or unit of weight — the same root that gives us "drachma.".
How many meanings does “dram” have?
“Dram” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small measure or drink of liquor, especially whisky.
