draper

Forms

draper^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French drap + -er.^[2][3][4] Drap is from Late Latin drappus (“piece of cloth”), probably of Gaulish origin.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1225, in the Péages de Sens, meaning “to make cloth”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to make cloth” lasted until the early 17th century, when the verb came to mean dressing in ample clothes falling in harmonious folds (1622), first in painting and then in everyday use.^[5][2] Jean d'Auton already wrote, about 1503, of forests de verdure drappées, clad in greenery.^[2][6] Rabelais (1552) used it for “to beat, thrash”, and Littré records a figurative sense “to mock, criticise”.^[2][6]

The reflexive se draper meant striking a theatrical pose from 1838 (Hugo, Ruy Blas).^[5][2] The past participle drapé is an adjective from 1464 and a noun, the folds of a garment, from 1901.^[5]

Timeline

• 1225 – It is recorded meaning “to make cloth”.^[2]
• c. 1503 – Jean d'Auton uses it figuratively for clothing.^[2]
• 1552 – Rabelais uses it for “to beat”.^[2]
• 1622 – It is used in painting of draped figures.^[2][5]
• 1677 – Miège records it for dressing in ample clothes.^[7]
• 1838 – Hugo uses se draper figuratively.^[2]
• 1901 – Colette uses drapé as a noun.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (technical) To make woollen fabric into cloth by fulling and raising.^[8][2]
2. To drape a person or figure in ample clothes falling in folds: draper un modèle dans une toile.^[8]
3. To cover with drapery, especially with black cloth as a sign of mourning.^[7][6]
4. To arrange a fabric in folds: draper un rideau.^[8]
5. (reflexive) se draper: to wrap oneself in a garment: se draper dans un châle.^[8]
6. Se draper dans sa dignité: to put on an air of offended dignity.^[8]

Word family

• drapé
• drapement
• drapage

Related words

• drap
• drapeau
• drapier
• draperie
• sparadrap

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert