Middle English, meaning "color of undyed cloth", from Middle French drap...
(Source: Wiktionary) [more]
an emotional state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, and not interested in their surroundings. The first recorded use of the word boredom is in the novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens, written in 1852, in... (42 of 1577 words, 4 images)
dull; dingy; shabby | cheerless; dreary | of the colour drab | a light olive-brown colour | a fabric of a dull grey or brown colour | a slatternly ... (24 of 522 words, 8 definitions, 10 usage examples, pronunciation)
"slattern" | "prostitute" (2 of 18 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drab
to associate with prostitutes (4 of 16 words)
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any of various cloths of a dull brown or gray color | a light olive brown ; a dull, lifeless, or faded appearance or quality (24 of 47 words, 2 definitions)
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of the dull brown color of drab ; of the color drab | characterized by dullness and monotony; "cheerless" (18 of 228 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples)
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a small amount [usually used in the phrase "dribs and drabs"] (11 of 32 words, 1 usage example)
Of a dull grayish to yellowish brown. | Of a light olive brown or khaki color. | Faded and dull in appearance. | Dull or commonplace in character; ... (25 of 143 words, 10 definitions, 3 usage examples, pronunciation)
A fabric, usually of thick wool or cotton, having a drab blee. | A wooden box, used in salt works for holding the salt when taken out of the boiling pans. | Dull, uninteresting, particularly of colour. | [outdated] A dirty or untidy woman; a slattern... (43 of 132 words, 6 definitions, 6 usage examples, pronunciations)
a kind of cloth, especially a yellowish-brown wool | a dull yellowish brown | of a dull yellowish-brown color | not bright or lively; dull, dreary, or ... (24 of 76 words, 7 definitions, pronunciation)
lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull | of a dull light brown colour | fabric of a dull light brown colour. | ("drabs") clothes, especially ... (22 of 75 words, 4 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/drab
a slovenly woman. | a prostitute. (5 of 24 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
dull; cheerless; lacking in spirit, brightness, etc. | having the color drab. | dull gray; dull brownish or yellowish gray. | any of several fabrics ... (22 of 67 words, 7 definitions, pronunciation)
boring, especially in appearance; having little colour and excitement (9 of 51 words, 3 usage examples, pronunciations)
not colourful or interesting (4 of 35 words, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
uninteresting to look at because of a lack of color or brightness | lacking interest, enthusiasm, or excitement | of a dull pale grayish brown color | ... (24 of 85 words, 5 definitions, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861606357/definition.html [offline]
an offensive term that deliberately insults a woman's appearance or cleanliness (archaic insult) | an offensive term for a prostitute (archaic) | to ... (21 of 71 words, 3 definitions, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861606358/definition.html [offline]
Origin: Middle English, meaning "color of undyed cloth", from Middle French drap ("cloth"), from Late Latin drappus ... | Origin uncertain; probably compare Irish drabog, Gaelic drabag ("dirty woman"). (27 of 76 etymology words)
First use: 1680s
Origin: "color of natural, undyed cloth", from Middle French drap. Figurative sense is about 1880. Apparently not related to earlier word meaning "a ... (23 of 76 etymology words)
Origin: Alteration of obsolete French drap, cloth, from Old French; see "drape". | Possibly of Celtic origin; akin to Scottish Gaelic ... (19 of 34 etymology words)
Origin: Old French drap, cloth from Vulgar Latin drappus from Indo-European *drop- from base *der-, to skin | Celtic, as in Irish ... (20 of 25 etymology words)
First use: 16th century
Origin: from Old French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus, perhaps of Celtic origin | of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic drabag
First use: mid 16th century
Origin: (as a noun denoting undyed cloth): probably from Old French drap "cloth" (see "drape")
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/drab
First use: early 16th century
Origin: perhaps related to Low German drabbe "mire" and Dutch drab "dregs"
First use: about 1515
Origin: unknown
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drab
First use: 1541
Origin: Middle French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus
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First use: 1809
Origin: probably alteration of drib
First use: Early 16th century
Origin: Old French drap "cloth"
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861606357/definition.html [offline]
Audio: North American pronunciation of "drab"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=drab0001 word=drab
Page last updated: 2013-01-01