haberdashery

American  

[hab-er-dash-uh-ree] / ˈhæb ərˌdæʃ ə ri /

noun

plural

haberdasheries

1. a haberdasher's shop.

2. the goods sold there.

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haberdashery British  

/ ˈhæbəˌdæʃərɪ /

noun

1. the goods or business kept by a haberdasher

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Etymology

Origin of haberdashery

1425–75; late Middle English haberdashrye < Anglo-French. See haberdasher, -y ³

Explanation

A haberdashery is a men's clothing shop, or a men's department in a larger store. You might visit a haberdashery to buy your dad a tie for Father's Day. Haberdashery is an old-fashioned word for the store you visit when you want to buy a suit or a shirt and tie. In the UK, the meaning is different — a British haberdashery sells sewing notions like buttons, zippers, and thread. The word comes from haberdasher, "seller of small things." These small things sometimes traditionally included men's hats, which led to the American definition of "men's shop."

Example Sentences

Other sponsors include Heimie’s Haberdashery in St. Paul, the Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, a tour company in Hudson and a retirement community in Shoreview.

From Washington Times • Mar. 31, 2018

It’s drawn by a half-dozen handsome, stamping horses trying to outrun an encroaching snow storm, and it will eventually end up at Minnie’s Haberdashery, a popular stopping-off point for weary travelers.

From Time • Dec. 22, 2015

"The Hateful Eight" glides on greed and betrayal played out in Minnie's Haberdashery, an outpost in a blizzard where eyes squint hard and little is as it seems.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2015

Not even at a stagecoach stop called Minnie’s Haberdashery.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2015

“Now we will go in,” she said, and annoyed Jane and Michael very much by lingering at the Haberdashery counter and taking great trouble over the choice of a reel of black cotton.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers