See Also: drab(medicine)
drab(1)(dictionary)
drab(2)(dictionary)
drab(3)(dictionary)
drab(4)(dictionary)
drab(dictionary)
drab(dictionary)

drab(2) (iou)



drab noun2 & adjective. [drab] M16.
[Prob. alt. of Old French drap cloth: see DRAPE verb. Cf. DRAP-DE-BERRY.]
A. noun.
I.
Any of various undyed cloths of a dull neutral colour. M16.
II. [absol. use of the adjective]
A dull light brown colour; cloth or clothing, esp. (in pl.) breeches, of this colour. E19.
M. R. Mitford Woe to white gowns! Woe to black! Drab was your only wear.
Any of various dull-coloured moths. E19.
In pl. The long wing-feathers of a female ostrich near the junction with the body. S. Afr. L19.
A dull or lifeless character or appearance; monotony. E20.
Westminster Gazette The one sustained note of colour in the dreary drab of Irish life.
b. adjective. Compar. & superl. -bb-.
Of a dull light brown colour. L18.
G. Downes The cottages..were of a deep drab hue.
Dull, monotonous; lacking brightness or colour. L19.
J. Buchan Sansculottes who sought to..reduce the great to a drab level of mediocrity. A. Eden In the cold and rain of mid-winter the prospect was drab and dour.
drabbiness noun the state or quality of being drabby L19.
drabbish adjective2 somewhat drab in colour or appearance M19.
drabby adjective2 rather drab, drabbish M19.
drably adverb L19.
drabness noun L19.