drab English · revision 1570

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɹæb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective comes from the noun ''drab'' “a kind of thick woollen cloth” (1541),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) [[der|frm|drap|t=cloth]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la-lat|drappus|t=piece of cloth]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[drape]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) An older noun ''drab'' “slattern, prostitute” (about 1515) is a separate word of unknown origin,^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) perhaps Celtic^(AHD)^(Etymonline) or related to Dutch ''drab'' “dregs”.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A kind of thick cloth of a dull yellowish-grey colour (1541).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The cloth gave its name to its colour, recorded as ''drapp-colour'' in 1686^(Barnhart 1995) and as an adjective from 1686^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) or 1715.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense of “dull, cheerless” appeared in 1880.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The unrelated noun meaning a dirty, untidy woman (about 1515) or a prostitute (about 1530) is now archaic,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and ''drab'' in ''dribs and drabs'' is another word, probably an alteration of ''drib''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1515 – a slattern, a separate word.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1541 – a thick yellowish-grey cloth.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1686 – adjective, dull light brown.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1828 – a small sum, in ''dribs and drabs''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1880 – figurative, dull and colourless.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dull and cheerless; [[dreary]] or monotonous.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a dull light brown or [[olive]] brown colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Faded and dull in appearance.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dull greyish or yellowish brown colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A thick wool or cotton cloth of this colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A [[slattern]] or [[prostitute]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[drably]]

+ * [[drabness]]

+ * [[olive drab]]

+ * [[dribs and drabs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[drape]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}