drab

drab
drab 1680s, "color of natural, undyed cloth," from M.Fr. drap (see DRAPE (Cf. drape)). Figurative sense is c.1880. Apparently not related to earlier word meaning "a dirty, untidy woman" (1510s), "a prostitute" (1520s), which seems to be connected with Ir. drabog, Gael. drabag "dirty woman," and perhaps with Low Ger. drabbe "dirt." Ultimately perhaps from PIE *dher- "to make muddy." Meaning "small, petty debt" (the sense in dribs and drabs) is 1828, of uncertain connection to the other senses.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • drab — drab·bet; drab·ble; drab·bler; drab; drab·ler; drab·ly; drab·ness; …   English syllables

  • drab — [dræb] adj [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: drab (dull colored) cloth (16 18 centuries), from Old French drap cloth ] 1.) not bright in colour, especially in a way that stops you from feeling cheerful = ↑dull ▪ The walls were painted a drab green. 2.)… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Drab — Drab, a. Of a color between gray and brown. n. A drab color. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Drab — (dr[a^]b), n. [AS. drabbe dregs, lees; akin to D. drab, drabbe, dregs, G. treber; for sense 1, cf. also Gael. drabag a slattern, drabach slovenly. Cf. {Draff}.] 1. A low, sluttish woman. King. [1913 Webster] 2. A lewd wench; a strumpet. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • drab — [ dræb ] adjective not colorful or interesting: his drab brown clothes Their lives seem so drab …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • drab — drab1 [drab] n. [< OFr drap, cloth < VL drappus < IE * drop < base * der , to skin] 1. a kind of cloth, esp. a yellowish brown wool 2. a dull yellowish brown adj. drabber, drabbest 1. of a dull yellowish brown color …   English World dictionary

  • Drab — Drab, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Drabbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Drabbing}.] To associate with strumpets; to wench. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Drab — Drab, n. [F. drap cloth: LL. drappus, trapus, perh. orig., a firm, solid stuff, cf. F. draper to drape, also to full cloth; prob. of German origin; cf. Icel. drepa to beat, strike, AS. drepan, G. treffen; perh. akin to E. drub. Cf. {Drape},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • drab — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mos IIIa, Mc. drabbie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} z dezaprobatą o wysokim, rosłym mężczyźnie, często podejrzewanym o niecne zamiary lub wzbudzającym swym wyglądem lęk; oprych : {{/stl 7}}{{stl 10}}Do przedziału wtargnął jakiś drab …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • drab — sb., et, drab, ene, i sms. drabs , fx drabschef, drabsforsøg …   Dansk ordbog

  • drab — index ordinary, pedestrian Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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