Klad

(rough) draft [noun] [het klad, de kladden]

Although "klad" has a plural form, this is never used. "Klad" is often used in conjunction with other nouns, see ‘Examples’ and ‘Related words’.

Examples:
1. "De schilder maakte eerst een tekening in klad voordat hij het penseel ter hand nam."
("The painter first made a drawing in (rough) draft, before taking up the pensil/ (paint) brush.")

2. "De kladversie van deze presentatie moet nog aangepast worden voordat ik hem in het management team presenteer."
("The draft version of this presentation has to be adjusted before I present it in the management team.")

Related words:
1. "Kladderen": to smudge.
2. "Kladblaadje" or "kladpapiertje": a piece of scrap paper.

Expression:
"De klad komt erin": things are slowing down / getting worse.
(Literally: "The rough draft gets in it).