yard goods

American  

plural noun

1. piece goods.

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Etymology

Origin of yard goods

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Especially in geometric-patterned textiles, the artists wove the vivid colors and stripped-down forms of Postimpressionist, Cubist and Fauvist artworks into urbane, sophisticated yard goods.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2023

Her mother sold yard goods and draperies at the Famous Barr department store.

From Time • Sep. 8, 2016

Did Ross, doubling as her own clothes designer, require more yard goods and seamstresses to realize her visions?

From Time Magazine Archive

For months FBI agents toiled at matching these vague swatches of information against the yard goods in their files.

From Time Magazine Archive

“But who would marry that monster Yitzchak, who leaves his precious children outside like yard goods? Besides, the ribbons will look beautiful in your brown hair.”

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen