dress goods

American  

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)

1. cloth or material for dresses.

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Etymology

Origin of dress goods

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

Sewing skills learned from her late mother, a Chinese immigrant, help 14-year-old Hanna and her White father to combat the town’s racially motivated resistance to their dress goods business.

From Washington Post

“Why, it’s beautiful, Rucker! I never noticed before! Goodness, it would make a lovely design for dress goods. But...what’s the point?”

From Literature

While she stood there trying not to believe her ears, Grandpa said, “Miss Love thinks she can be a big hep in New York. She’s go’n pick out the housewares and dress goods, and the ladies’ ready-to-wear and all like thet.”

From Literature

Besides clothing, the store also sold dress goods and notions.

From Washington Times

When she wanted a gown she could have it, that is, after she had gone into the fields, picked the necessary cotton, developed it into dress goods and turned the goods into a garment.

From Project Gutenberg