Draper
'dreɪpər
Definitions
A person who deals in fabrics and cloth; a cloth merchant.
'dreɪpər
A person who sells fabrics or cloth.
The draper showed me a beautiful silk fabric.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a fancy fabric store, and the person helping you pick out cloth for your curtains is the draper! They're experts in all things cloth!
👶 For kids: A draper is someone who sells cloth, like the cloth you use to make clothes or curtains.
More Examples
The shopkeeper, a draper for many years, knew a lot about textiles.
She sought advice from a draper about the best material for her wedding dress.
How It's Used
"The draper displayed various fabrics for customers to choose from."
"In the 18th century, drapers were essential merchants in every town."
From Middle English *draper*, from Old French *drapier*, from *drap* ('cloth'), ultimately from a Germanic source related to 'drape'. The word originally referred to a cloth merchant or dealer.
Historically, drapers were essential to communities, supplying textiles for clothing and other needs. They often played a significant role in local commerce.
Memory tip
Think of a 'drape' of fabric sold by a 'draper'.
Word Origin
"cloth merchant"