piece goods

American  

plural noun

1. goods, especially fabrics, sold at retail by linear measure.

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piece goods British  

plural noun

1. Also called: yard goods.  goods, esp fabrics, made in standard widths and lengths

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Etymology

Origin of piece goods

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

They drained off food supplies, created inflation by "military yen," adjusted exports to Japan of food and war supplies in exchange for paper, piece goods and children's toys.

From Time Magazine Archive

What Japan wants to sell is Japanese cotton piece goods, Manchurian soya beans and such.

From Time Magazine Archive

The cotton spinning of individual Gandhi followers was said to be seriously affecting the British cotton piece goods trade � In Japan, cotton mills were curtailing production.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Thailand, Japanese cotton piece goods had been virtually driven from the market by Chinese prices, which were as much as 15% lower.

From Time Magazine Archive

Borgenicht worked in piece goods for a man named Epstein, then moved on to a store in neighboring Jaslow called Brandstatter’s.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell