Drought (drout), n. [OE. droght, drougth, dru”ð, AS. drugað, from drugian to dry. See Dry, and cf. Drouth, which shows the original final sound.] 1. Dryness; want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the weather as affects the earth, and prevents the growth of plants; aridity.
The drought of March hath pierced to the root. Chaucer.
In a drought the thirsty creatures cry. Dryden.
2. Thirst; want of drink. Johnson.
3. Scarcity; lack.
A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history. Fuller.