Drought /(drout)/

Drought

n.
  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.
    In a drought the thirsty creatures cry.
  2. Thirst; want of drink.
  3. Scarcity; lack.
    A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history.