drab

¹

[drab]

adjective

drabber, drabbest 

1. dull; cheerless; lacking in spirit, brightness, etc.

2. having the color drab.

noun

1. dull gray; dull brownish or yellowish gray.

2. any of several fabrics of this color, especially of thick wool or cotton.

drab

²

[drab]

noun

Archaic.

1. a dirty, untidy woman; slattern.

2. a prostitute.

verb (used without object)

drabbed, drabbing 

1. to associate with drabs.

drab

¹

/ dræb /

adjective

1. dull; dingy; shabby

2. cheerless; dreary

   a drab evening

3. of the colour drab

noun

1. a light olive-brown colour

2. a fabric of a dull grey or brown colour

drab

²

/ dræb /

noun

1. a slatternly woman

2. a whore

verb

1. (intr) to consort with prostitutes

Other Word Forms

• drably adverb
• drabness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drab¹

1535–45; < Middle French drap < Late Latin drappus piece of cloth

Origin of drab²

First recorded in 1505–15; perhaps akin to Dutch drab “dregs, lees,” obsolete Dutch drablen “to run or tramp about”; drabble, draff

Word History and Origins

Origin of drab¹

C16: from Old French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus, perhaps of Celtic origin

Origin of drab²

C16: of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic drabag

Idioms and Phrases

see dribs and drabs.

Example Sentences

In a speech to the European Parliament Tuesday, he pointed to export licences "issued in dribs and drabs" and said deliveries were falling behind schedule.

Read more on Barron's

Goodwill also has to win over skeptical landlords who still might think of Goodwill as drab stores that attract primarily lower-income customers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Doing this requires three crucial steps: First, for France to set an example by delivering enough Patriot-type batteries to protect all major cities urgently, not in dribs and drabs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When Penelope had been a student, all the girls had dark, drab hair.

Read more on Literature

“It is a pity there is no way to tell in advance how much optimism is the correct amount,” she thought as she pinned her dull, drab locks into a dull, drab bun.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• bleak 
• desolate 
• dingy 
• dismal 
• dreary 
• gray 
• lackluster 
• muddy 
• run down 
• shabby 
• somber