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Glite Dictionary
fluid dram

fluid dram

9.9
A small old liquid measure used for medicine, about 3.6 millilitres
  • noun
  • /ˈfluːɪd dræm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : dramático líquido
  • The pharmacist measured out a fluid dram of the tincture for the patient.

Examples

  • Recipes from the 19th century sometimes call for a fluid dram of a particular ingredient.

  • Each fluid dram contains precisely 60 minims, making it useful for small doses.

  • A typical dosage might be one fluid dram.

  • The recipe calls for two fluid drams of the tincture.

  • The pharmacist measured out a fluid dram of the tincture for the patient.

  • A typical dosage might be one fluid dram.

  • Recipes from the 19th century sometimes call for a fluid dram of a particular ingredient.

Synonyms

dram
vsfluid dram
3 5.3

A small amount of strong drink like whiskey

is the technical small liquid unit with a specific milliliter value
fluidram
vsfluid dram
  • Archaic
9.9

A small old measure of liquid equal to about three and a half milliliters

is the same unit but traditionally written as two separate words
drachm
vsfluid dram
  • Archaic
9.9

A small measure of liquid used in old medicine and recipes

is the precise small liquid measure used in historical pharmacy

Surface Forms

fluid dram singular
fluid drams plural

Morphology

fluid + dram

The meaning is directly compositional: 'dram' denotes a small measured amount and 'fluid' specifies that the amount is a liquid, so 'fluid dram' naturally denotes a small unit of liquid measurement. Although the term is somewhat specialised and historical, the noun–noun composition follows normal English patterns and a B1 learner who knows both constituents would infer the basic meaning.

Etymology

Fluid dram comes from old pharmacy: dram was a very small weight and fluid shows this is the liquid version. Pharmacists would pour tiny 'doses' of medicine into a small cup or spoon, so a fluid dram now means 'a very small measure of liquid'.