Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Dram?

\Dram\, n. [OF. drame, F. drachme, L. drachma, drachm, drachma, fr. Gr. ?, prop., a handful, fr. ? to grasp. Cf. {Drachm}, {Drachma}.] 1. A weight; in Apothecaries' weight, one eighth part of an ounce, or sixty grains; in Avoirdupois weight, one sixteenth part of an ounce, or 27.34375 grains. 2. A minute quantity; a mite. Were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before many times as mush the forcible hindrance of evildoing. --Milton. 3. As much spirituous liquor as is usually drunk at once; as, a dram of brandy; hence, a potation or potion; as, a dram of poison. --Shak. 4. (Numis.) A Persian daric. --Ezra ii. 69. {Fluid dram}, or {Fluid drachm}. See under {Fluid}.
\Dram\, v. i. & t. To drink drams; to ply with drams. [Low] --Johnson. --Thackeray.