As a noun, it can mean a first or unfinished version of a piece of writing, a plan for something, or a current of air in a closed space. As a verb, it means to write or prepare a rough version, or to select people for a special duty, such as military service.
Variant of 'draught', from Old English 'dragan' meaning 'to draw, pull'. The idea of 'drawing out' became 'drawing up' a document or pulling people into service. Over time, spellings split: 'draft' became standard in American English, while 'draught' survives in some British uses.
A 'draft' of writing is like a sketch: something you can still erase and change freely. The same root idea of 'pulling' shows up in the military draft, where people are 'drawn' into service. One word quietly links creative work, cold breezes, and war.
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