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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Japan, during Depression, secured virtually the whole of Ethiopia's import business in cotton piece goods, while Italians were supplying Haile Selassie with a powerful radio station at cut rates.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1941, when piece goods were scarce, Kahn took a chance on Manchester.

From Time Magazine Archive

April imports of piece goods were reported as 165,000,000 yd. as against 215,000,000 yd. for April 1929.

From Time Magazine Archive

She had once gone to the ladies’ room in the morning and been found by Mr. Gonzalez late that afternoon asleep on a pile of piece goods in the factory loft.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole