drape
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L14757 on Wikidata ↗verb
- hang over something, as a large area of cloth
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /dɹeɪp/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English drape (“a drape”, noun), from Old French draper (“to drape; to full cloth”), from drap (“cloth, drabcloth”), from Late Latin drappus, drapus (“drabcloth, kerchief”), a word first recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, probably from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”, literally “that which is struck or for striking”), from Proto-Germanic *drapiz (“a strike, hit, blow”) and Proto-Germanic *drēpiz (“intended for striking, to be beaten”), both from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreb- (“to beat, crush, make or become thick”). Cognate with English drub (“to beat”), North Frisian dreep (“a blow”), Low German drapen, dräpen (“to strike”), German treffen (“to meet”), Swedish dräpa (“to slay”). More at drub.
- A curtain; a drapery.
- The way in which fabric falls or hangs.
“The herringbone-twill sample is soft and smooth, with an easy drape that allows the fabric to move beautifully.”
- A member of a youth subculture distinguished by its sharp dress, especially peg-leg pants (1950s: e.g. Baltimore, MD). Antonym: square.
- A dress made from an entire piece of cloth, without having pieces cut away as in a fitted garment.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English drape (“a drape”, noun), from Old French draper (“to drape; to full cloth”), from drap (“cloth, drabcloth”), from Late Latin drappus, drapus (“drabcloth, kerchief”), a word first recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, probably from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”, literally “that which is struck or for striking”), from Proto-Germanic *drapiz (“a strike, hit, blow”) and Proto-Germanic *drēpiz (“intended for striking, to be beaten”), both from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreb- (“to beat, crush, make or become thick”). Cognate with English drub (“to beat”), North Frisian dreep (“a blow”), Low German drapen, dräpen (“to strike”), German treffen (“to meet”), Swedish dräpa (“to slay”). More at drub.
- To cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery.
“to drape a bust, a building, etc.”
“The whole people were still draped professionally.”
- To spread over, cover.
“I draped my towel over the radiator to dry.”
“I cycled the three miles each morning between hedges draped with spangled cobwebs and berried bryony.”
- To rail at; to banter.
“1672-679, William Temple, Memoirs At my Arrival , the King asked me many questions about my Journey, about the Congress, draping us for spending him so money”
- To make cloth.
- To design drapery, arrange its folds, etc., as for hangings, costumes, statues, etc.
- To hang or rest limply.
“I draped myself elegantly over the couch.”