Etymology

Noun

1. An early version of a written work

   I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.

2. A preliminary sketch, rough outline

   His first drafts were better than most authors' final products.

3. Depth of water needed to float a ship [also spelled draught].
4. A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle [also spelled draught].
5. A cheque, an order for money to be paid
6. An amount of liquid that is drunk in one swallow [also spelled draught]

   She took a deep draft from the bottle of water.

7. conscription, the system of forcing people to serve in the military.

   He left the country to avoid the draft.

8. A system of assigning rookie players to professional sports teams
9. the pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack stretched condition.

Verb

1. to write a first version, make a preliminary sketch.
2. write a law
3. to conscript a person, force a person to serve in the military
   • He was drafted during the Vietnam War.
4. to select and separate an animal or animals from a group.
   • The calves were drafted from the cows.
5. to force or convince a person to do a job they do not want to do
   • They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.
6. to select a rookie player onto a professional sports team
   • After his last year of college football, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
7. to follow very closely behind another vehicle, thereby providing an aerodynamic advantage to both lead and follower, thereby conserving energy or increasing speed.

Adjective

1. Referring to drinks on tap, in contrast to bottled

   I'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.