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Drought

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.

3. Scarcity; lack. A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history. (Fuller)

Origin: oe. Droght, drougth, dru, as. Druga, from drugian to dry. See dry, and cf. Drouth, which shows the original final sound.