noun
dram
A traditional unit of weight equal to a fraction of an ounce.
This old recipe calls for one dram of powdered ginger.
Etymology
The Greek word names a unit of weight and a coin. English retained its descendant as a small weight, with the exact fraction varying by measurement system.
More examples
- An avoirdupois ounce contains 16 drams.
- In apothecaries' weight, eight drams make one ounce.
- The jeweler's ledger lists the silver's weight in drams.
Forms
dram · drams