From Proto-Germanic *drugiz (dry, firm) — the same root, through Dutch, gave English 'drug': originally dried herbs.
Free from moisture or liquid; (of weather) with no rain; (of humour) subtle and understated; (of wine) not sweet.
From Old English 'dryge' meaning 'free from water or moisture,' from Proto-Germanic *drūgiz, from a PIE root *dreg- or *dreug- meaning 'dry, firm.' The same root gave Middle Dutch 'droge' (dry), which produced the English word 'drug' — originally dried goods, dried herbs used in medicine. The word 'drought' is also a close relative, from Old English 'drugaþ' (dryness). The modern pronunciation with a diphthong /aɪ/ reflects the Great Vowel Shift applied to the Middle English long 'ī' that developed from the Old English 'y' vowel.
The English word 'drug' comes from 'dry.' Middle Dutch 'droge' (dry) was used in the phrase 'droge vate' (dry barrels) for containers of dried herbs, spices, and medicinal plants. The contents of those barrels — dried botanical goods — became 'drogues' in French and then 'drugs' in English. Every pharmacy in the world owes its core