drab
/dɹæb/
drab noun: a fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour.
Noun (1)
drab (countable and uncountable, plural drabs)
- A fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour.
- John Hanſell, of Bridport, in Dorſetſhire, ſail-cloth manufacturer, ſtates in his evidence, that the ſale of coarſe woollen cloath was not then a twentieth part of what it had been for the common people formerly, owing to their ſubſtituting Ruſſia drabs and ravenſduck as garments in place of the...1786, “Letter X”, in Examinator’s Letters, or, A Mirror for British Monopolists and Irish Financiers, Dublin: Printed, and sold by the booksellers, →OCLC, pages 41–42
- Synonyms:
- drabcloth
- The color of this fabric.
- Most of the colours called drabs appear to me the same by day-light and candle-light.1794 October 31, John Dalton, “Extraordinary Facts Relating to the Vision of Colours: With Observations”, in Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, volume V, part 1...
- [T]he carpet is a Brussels, of rather a small pattern, in various shades of greens and drabs.1838 February 17, Mrs. Howitt, “The Friends’ Family”, in William, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal, volume VII, number 316, Edinburgh: Published, […], by W[illiam] S[omerville]...
- Often in the plural form drabs: apparel, especially trousers, made from this fabric.
- He wore a pretty large wig, which had once been white, but was now of a browniſh yellow; his coat was one of thoſe modeſt-coloured drabs which mock the injuries of duſt and dirt; [...]1771, [Henry Mackenzie], “He Makes a Second Expedition to the Baronet’s. […]”, in The Man of Feeling, 2nd edition, London: Printed for T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 45
- [T]o please her he promised to lay aside the universal drabs for the wedding day and to case his extremities in modern black cloth continuations, with an express stipulation that the drabs should again be in active service on the subsequent morning.1860 September, J. Crawford Wilson, “Brutus”, in Frank Leslie’s Monthly, volume VII, number 3, New York, N.Y.: [Frank Leslie] Publication Office, 19, City Hall Square, →OCLC, page 237, column 1
- A dull or uninteresting appearance or situation, unremarkable.
- The slimy little causeway had dropped into the river by a slow process of suicide, and two or three stumps of piles and a rusty iron mooring-ring were all that remained of the departed Break-Neck glories. [...] [T]hrough three-fourths of its rising tides the dirty indecorous drab of a river would...1867 December 12, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, “No Thoroughfare”, in Charles Dickens, editor, All The Year Round: Extra Christmas Number, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 3, column...
- Watership Down review – CGI rabbits can't save this Christmas turkey. The 1970s cartoon traumatised generations of children, but the new version is tame, drab and deeply unsatisfying. What, really, was the point?2018 December 23, Lucy Mangan, “WatershipDown review - CGI rabbits can't save this Christmas turkey”, in The Guardian
Adjective
drab (comparative drabber, superlative drabbest)
- Of the color of some types of drabcloth: dull brownish yellow or dun.
- The coffee presently appeared, brought not as usual by the footman, in scarlet and drab, but by the old butler, in threadbare but well-brushed black, [...]1857, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “[Mr Gilfil’s Love-story.] Chapter II”, in Scenes of Clerical Life […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published January...
- Particularly of color: dull, uninteresting.
- [T]he man was about fifty-two—had a ſmall cane under his arm—was dreſs'd in a dark drab-colour'd coat, waiſtcoat, and breeches, which ſeem'd to have seen ſome years ſervice—they were ſtill clean, and there was a little air of frugal propretè throughout him.1768, Mr. Yorick [pseudonym; Laurence Sterne], “The Mystery. Paris.”, in A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume II, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […], →OCLC, page 104
- Year by year they will find her with even thinner hair, sharper shoulders, drabber cheeks; and he, looking upon her with the forgiveness of complete indifference, will say to himself, "She is bad, and she is ugly; I was well rid of her!"1869 December, [Rhoda Broughton], “Red as a Rose is She”, in Temple Bar: A London Magazine for Town and Country Readers, volume XXVIII, London: Richard Bentley, […]; New York, N.Y.: Willmer and...
Noun (2)
drab (plural drabs)
- A dirty or untidy woman; a slattern.
- [C]ertainly thou deſireſt but thy right, that canſt read a rhetorique, or logique lecture to Hecuba in the art of raving, and inſtruct Tiſiphone herſelfe in her owne gnaſhing language. Other he, or ſhe, drabs of the curſteſt or vengeableſt rankes, are but dipped or dyed in the art; not ſuch a...1593, Gabriell Haruey [i.e., Gabriel Harvey], Pierces Supererogation: Or A New Prayse of the Old Asse. A Preparative to Certaine Larger Discourses, Intituled Nashes S. Fame, London: […] Iohn Wolfe...
- [O]ld Lad of War; thou that were wont to be as hot as a turn-ſpit, as nimble as a fencer, & as lowzy as a ſchoole-maiſter; now thou art put to ſilence like a Secretarie? [...] who are your centinells in peace and ſtand ready charg'd to giue warning; with hems, hums, & pockey-coffs; only your...1607, W. S. [attributed to Thomas Middleton or William Shakespeare (doubtful)], The Pvritaine. Or The VViddovv of Watling-streete. […], imprinted at London: By G[eorge] Eld, →OCLC, Act I
- A promiscuous woman, a slut; a prostitute.
- Take heed to false harlots, and more, ye wot what. / If noise ye heare, / Looke all be cleare: / Least drabs doe noie thee, / And theeues destroie thee.1878, Thomas Tusser, “74. A Digression.”, in Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC; republished as W[illiam]...
- [T]hey ſay hee keepes a Troyan drab, and yſes the traytor Calcas tent, Ile after … —Nothing but letchery all incontinent varlots.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
- Synonyms:
- NB: All terms are usually pejorative unless stated otherwise., 304, alley cat, alleycat, amorette, amoret, amorosa, article, Athanasian wench, blowsabella
Verb (1)
drab (third-person singular simple present drabs, present participle drabbing, simple past and past participle drabbed)
- To consort with prostitutes; to whore.
- You may ſay, you ſaw him at ſuch a time, marke you mee, / At game, or drincking, ſwearing, or drabbing, / You may go ſo farre.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell...
- Very fine! This Sempronius is a bleſſed Perſon indeed! he Games, he Cheats, he Swears, he Drinks, he Drabs; [...]1720, [John] Dennis, The Invader of His Country: Or, The Fatal Resentment. A Tragedy. […], London: Printed for J. Pemberton […], and J. Watts […]; and sold by J. Brotherton and W. Meadows […]; T....
Noun (3)
drab (plural drabs)
- A small amount, especially of money.
- Thanks to my stars, I once can see / A window here from scribbling free! / Here no conceited coxcombs pass, / To scratch their paltry drabs on glass; / Nor party-fool is calling names, / Or dealing crowns to George and James.a. 1746, Jonathan Swift, “VII. Another, Written upon a Window where there was No Writing before.”, in Thomas Sheridan, compiler, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick’s...
- The tea drinking has done a great deal in bringing this nation into the state [of] misery in which it now is; and the tea drinking, which is carried on by "dribs" and "drabs;" by pence and farthings going out at a time; this miserable practice has been gradually introduced by the growing weight of...1823, William Cobbett, “Brewing Beer”, in Cottage Economy: […], new edition, London: Printed for J. M. Cobbett, […], →OCLC, paragraph 30
Noun (4)
drab (plural drabs)
- A box used in a saltworks for holding the salt when taken out of the boiling pans.
- Thoſe therefore, who are moſt exact in pickling beef for exportation, [...] take their carcaſſes as ſoon as cold, and cut them into proper pieces; and after rubbing each piece carefully with good white ſalt, lay them on heaps in a cool cellar, in a drab with a ſhelving bottom, where they remain for...1748, William Brownrigg, “Of the Use of Salt as a Condiment or Pickle”, in The Art of Making Common Salt, as Now Practised in Most Parts of the World; with Several Improvements Proposed in that Art...
- When the ſalt is carried into the ſtore-houſe, it is put into drabs, which are partitions, like ſtalls for horſes, lined at three ſides, and the bottom with boards, and having a ſliding-board on the foreſide to draw up on occaſion. The bottoms are made ſhelving, being higheſt at the back, and...1765, Temple Henry Croker, Thomas Williams, Samuel Clark, “SALT”, in The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. In which the Whole Circle of Human Learning is Explained. […], volume II, London...
Noun (5)
drab (uncountable)
- An instance of a transgender or non-binary person presenting as the gender corresponding to their sex assigned at birth instead of that corresponding to their internal gender identity (most commonly a trans woman dressed as a man).
- Just for those who may not be aware of the term, “drab” is how you might describe a transgendered person (including transsexuals, crossdressers, drag queens, etc.) that is presenting as their birth sex. For instance, if Rain is dressed as a boy, she is dressed in “drab”. My original idea had Ruby...2012 November 1, Jocelyn Samara D., “Comic 278 - Ch. 12 - Drab”, in Rain, archived from the original on 21 Jan 2020
Noun (6)
drab (uncountable)
Verb (2)
drab (third-person singular simple present drabs, present participle drabbing, simple past and past participle drabbed)
- To poison.
- "What do you mean by drows, Chaldea?"
"Poison, no less. You look drabbed, for sure."
"Drabbed?"
"Poisoned. But I waste the kalo jib on you, my Gorgious. God bless you for a sick one, say I, and that's a bad dukkerin, the which in gentle Romany means fortune, my Gentile swell."1911, Fergus Hume, Red Money
- "What do you mean by drows, Chaldea?"
drab meaning in Tamil, Urdu, Bengali and Malayalam
drab in Tamil
- மங்கலான இளம்பழுப்பு நிறம், கனத்த உறுதியான பழுப்புத்துணி, கவர்ச்சியின்மை, வேறுபாடில்லாமை, சலிப்பு, மங்கலான் இளம்பழுப்பு நிறமுள்ள
drab in Urdu
- بےلطف, بےوقوف, پھیکا, اچاٹ, یکساں, بدسلیقہ
drab in Bengali
- নিস্প্রভ, একঘেয়ে
drab in Malayalam
- വിരസമായ, അനാകർഷമായ, തവിട്ടുനിറമുളള
More languagesFewer languages
- drab in Kannada
- ಸಪ್ಪೆ, ಮಂಕು, ಮಂಕಾದ, ನಸುಕಂದು ಬಣ್ಣದ
Examples of drab in a sentence
- Yet here was a young woman dressed in drab and severely hair pinned.1907 October, Jane Armstrong, “Woman Architect who Helped Build the Fairmont Hotel”, in The Architect and Engineer of California, volume X...
- A drab office block sandwiched between a pub and a branch of Starbucks was a secret base of spy agency GCHQ, it has been confirmed.2019 April 5, Joseph Lee, “Drab London office block was GCHQ spy base”, in BBC:
- The more he basked in golden dreams the drabber seemed his humdrum life behind the bank counter.1923 April, Harold Steevens, “The Duplicate Cheque”, in [Herbert Greenhough Smith], editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly...
- For some it looks its drabbest, for others it sparkles and looks, if not handsome, at any rate comfortable.1944, Emily Carr, “Sounds and Silences”, in The House of All Sorts, Toronto, Ont.; London: Oxford University Press, →OCLC, page 10:
Synonyms of drab
- drabcloth
- NB: All terms are usually pejorative unless stated otherwise.
- 304
- alley cat
- alleycat
- bop
- chippy
- cocotte
- cockslut
- cockwhore
30 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
Forms of drab
| Noun | |
|---|---|
| plural | drabs |
| Adjective | |
| comparative | drabber |
| superlative | drabbest |
| Verb | |
| third-person singular present | drabs |
| present participle | drabbing |
| past participle | drabbed |
| past | drabbed |
Origin of drab
Probably from Middle French and Old French drap (“cloth”), either: * from Late Latin drappus (“drabcloth, kerchief; piece of cloth”), most likely from Gaulish *drappo, from Proto-Indo-European *drep- (“to scratch, tear”); or * from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”), from Proto-Germanic *drap-, *drēp- (“something beaten”), from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrebʰ- (“to beat, crush; to make or become thick”). The English word is cognate with Ancient Greek δρέπω (drépō, “to pluck”), Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬀𐬟𐬱𐬀 (drafša, “banner, flag”), Lithuanian drãpanos (“household linens”), Old Norse trefja (“to rub, wear out”), trof (“fringes”), Sanskrit द्रापि (drāpi, “mantle, gown”), Serbo-Croatian drápati (“to scratch, scrape”)).
The origin of the noun is uncertain; compare Middle English drabelen, drablen, draplen (“to soil; make dirty; to drag on the ground or through mud”), and Low German drabbe (“dirt, mud”), drabbeln (“to soil”), and Old Norse drabba (“to make drab; make dirty”), the latter three ultimately from Proto-Germanic *drepaną (“to hit, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreb- (“to crush, grind; to kill”). The word is also likely to be related to Dutch drab (“dregs, sediment”), Irish drabog, Scottish Gaelic drabag (“dirty woman; slattern”). The verb is derived from the noun.
Probably related to drop (“small mass of liquid”).
Words formed from drab
Words that rhyme with drab
Questions about drab
- What does drab mean?
- Drab means a fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour.
- What is drab in Tamil?
- Drab in Tamil is மங்கலான இளம்பழுப்பு நிறம், கனத்த உறுதியான பழுப்புத்துணி, கவர்ச்சியின்மை. See Drab meaning in Tamil.
- How do you use drab in a sentence?
- Yet here was a young woman dressed in drab and severely hair pinned.
- What part of speech is drab?
- Drab can be a noun, an adjective or a verb.
- How do you pronounce drab?
- Drab is pronounced /dɹæb/ (UK).
- What is the plural of drab?
- The plural of drab is drabs.
Words near drab in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: drab (page history and authors); drab (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); drab (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); Drab (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); drab (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); drab (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-drab.wav.
Cite this entry: “drab.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/drab. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.