Drab

/dɹæb/ · noun

Meaning

A fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour..

Definitions by Sense

1. A fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour.
2. The color of this fabric.
3. Often in the plural form drabs: apparel, especially trousers, made from this fabric.
4. (by extension) A dull or uninteresting appearance or situation, unremarkable.
5. Of the color of some types of drabcloth: dull brownish yellow or dun.
6. (by extension) Particularly of color: dull, uninteresting.
7. (dated) A dirty or untidy woman; a slattern.
8. (dated) A promiscuous woman, a slut; a prostitute.

Example Sentences

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 coarſe woollens.

Most of the colours called drabs appear to me the same by day-light and candle-light.

[T]he carpet is a Brussels, of rather a small pattern, in various shades of greens and drabs.

Let your light drabs be next. Do not put anything in your liquor after your greys, except a pint of this ebony liquor; stir it up well, and handle in your silks for light drab for twenty minutes, and they are done; [...] The next drab you dye in the vat is a dark stone drab.

They looked very well in their simple suits, Meg in silvery drab, with a blue velvet snood, lace frills, and the pearl pin; Jo in maroon, with a stiff, gentlemanly linen collar, and a white chrysanthemum or two for her only ornament.

The sins of Kalamazoo are neither scarlet nor crimson. / The sins of Kalamazoo are a convict gray, a dishwater drab. / And the people who sin the sins of Kalamazoo are neither scarlet nor crimson. / They run to drabs and grays—and some of them sing they shall be washed whiter than snow—and some: We should worry.

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; [...]

[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.

Synonyms for drab

Antonyms for drab

Related Words

Word Forms

• drabs
• drabber
• drabbest
• drabbing
• drabbed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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