Definition

Noun: A draper is a person or business that sells fabrics, textiles, sewing materials, and related dry goods. Historically, a draper's shop was a primary source for cloth and materials for making clothing and household items.

Usage and Examples

• As a noun (person/business):
  • She bought the linen from the local draper. (She purchased the linen from the local fabric seller.)
  • The family business was established as drapers in the 19th century. (The family business was founded as sellers of fabrics in the 19th century.)

Advanced Usage

• The term draper is somewhat historical or traditional, especially in British English. In modern contexts, similar businesses might be called "fabric stores," "cloth merchants," or "textile retailers."
• It can be used in formal or historical descriptions of trades and commerce.

Variants and Related Words

• Drapery (noun): This is a related but distinct word. It primarily refers to:
  • Cloth or fabric hanging in loose folds, especially as curtains.
  • The trade or goods of a draper.

Synonyms

• Cloth merchant
• Fabric retailer
• Textile dealer
• Mercer (a dealer in fine fabrics, especially silks)

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning is specifically a dealer in fabrics. While the reference mentions "sometimes in clothing and drygoods," the primary and most precise definition centers on fabrics and sewing materials. "Dry goods" is a broader historical category that includes fabrics, haberdashery, and other non-perishable household textiles.

Noun

1. a dealer in fabrics and sewing materials (and sometimes in clothing and drygoods)