Definition of "dram"

Were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before many times as much the forcible hindrance of evildoing.

1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.]

When Friday came to him I bade him ſpeak to him, and tell him of his Deliverance, and pulling out my Bottle, made him give the poor Wretch a Dram, which, with the News of his being deliver'd, reviv'd him, and he ſat up in the Boat […]

1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719, pages 281–282

Oh, brethren, if you wants more preachin' Save a little dram for me (Glory hallelujah!) Drinkin' gin ain't against my teachin'

1920, Marshall Walker, Will E. Skidmore (lyrics and music), “Save a Little Dram for Me”‎performed by Bert Williams

The rolling stock, consisting entirely of four-wheel open trucks, or drams, was broken up at Bonvilles Court Colliery.

1946 November and December, “The Saundersfoot Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 340

They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams [i.e., the Persian daric] of gold, and five thousand pound of silver […]

The Bible (King James Version), Ezra 2:69

What I contend against is, this dramming, dramming, dramming, at all hours of the day. There are some men who take a glass at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and at four in the afternoon.

1857, Samuel Griswold Goodrich, Recollections of a Lifetime

The parents […] are getting ready their daughter for sale […] praying her, and imploring her, and dramming her, and coaxing her.

1854, Arthur Pendennis [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […]