Drought, n.

(drout), n. [A-S. drugādh, drugōdh, from dryge, Eng. dry, q. v.; D. droogte. The spelling drought is after the Belgic dialect; but the regular word, drouth, or drowth, as written in the time of Bacon, is still considerably used.] 1. Want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the weather as affects the earth, and prevents the growth of plants; aridness; aridity. In a drought the thirsty creatures cry. Dryden.

2. Dryness of the throat and mouth; thirst; want of drink. Milton.
3. Scarcity; lack. “A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history.” Fuller.