drab

views updated Jun 11 2018

drab1 / drab/ • adj. (drab·ber, drab·best) 1. lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull: the landscape was drab and gray| her drab suburban existence.2. of a dull light brown color: drab camouflage uniforms.• n. fabric of a dull brownish color.DERIVATIVES: drab·ly adv.drab·ness n.drab2 • n. archaic 1. a slovenly woman.2. a prostitute.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

drab

views updated Jun 11 2018

drab 2 †kind of cloth XVI; (adj.) dull yellowishbrown colour XVII. prob. alt. of †darp cloth (of which it was an alternative form XVII–XVIII) — (O)F. — late L. drappus (see DRAPE).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

drab

views updated May 29 2018

drab 1 slattern; harlot. XVI. prob. in orig. a cant or slang word; perh. from Du. or LG., cf. Du. drab dregs, LG. drabbe thick dirty liquid, mire.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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