Dram Meaning
/dɹæm/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA small unit of weight, variously:
nounA small unit of weight, variously:, Alternative form of drachm (“One sixteenth of an ounce avoirdupois (1.77 g; symbol: ℨ or ʒ)”).
Sentence Examples
He enjoyed a small dram of whiskey before bed.
She didn't have a single dram of evidence to support her.
She drank a small dram of whiskey before going to sleep.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After dinner, he poured himself a ____ of brandy to sip slowly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He enjoyed a small ____ of whiskey before bed.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dragme, dramme, from Old French dragme, drame, from Late Latin dragma, from Latin drachma, from Ancient Greek δραχμή (drakhmḗ, “unit of weight; a handful”). Doublet of drachma, diram, dirham, dirhem, and adarme.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before many times as much the forcible hindrance of evildoing."
— 1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC:
"When Friday came to him I bade him ſpeak to him, and tell him of his Deliverance, and pulling out my Bottle, made him give the poor Wretch a Dram, which, with the News of his being deliver'd, reviv'd him, and he ſat up in the Boat […]"
— 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, pages 281–282:
"Oh, brethren, if you wants more preachin'
Save a little dram for me (Glory hallelujah!)
Drinkin' gin ain't against my teachin'"
— 1920, Marshall Walker, Will E. Skidmore, “Save a Little Dram for Me”, performed by Bert Williams:
"Connoisseurs may prefer to savour their dram of single malt straight up. But, for beverage companies, that's not where the growth is."
— 2025 December 27, “Cocktails in a can are the new frontier for drooping drinks giants”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18:
"The rolling stock, consisting entirely of four-wheel open trucks, or drams, was broken up at Bonvilles Court Colliery."
— 1946 November and December, “The Saundersfoot Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 340:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After dinner, he poured himself a ____ of brandy to sip slowly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He enjoyed a small ____ of whiskey before bed.