Drab (color)
Drab is a dull, light-brown color.[1] It originally took its name from a fabric of the same color made of undyed, homespun wool. The word was first used in English in the mid-16th century. It probably originated from the Old French word drap, which meant cloth.[1] The word gradually came to mean dull, lifeless, or monotonous.
Drab (cloth)[]
Drab was a term used for cloths with specific colors such as dull browns, yellowish or gray. The Drab of heavy woolen was produced in Yorkshire, England. It was a thick, sturdy structure used for overcoating.[2][3]
In military uniforms[]
Several shades of drab have been used for military uniforms, including the above-mentioned light-brown color. The greenish shades of drab, known as olive drab, were used as the colors of the U.S. Army uniforms and equipment during World War II.
References[]
- ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. 1982.
- ^ Fairchild's dictionary of textiles. Internet Archive. New York, Fairchild Publications. 1959. p. 189.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ ltd, Chambers W. and R. (1867). Chambers's etymological dictionary of the English language, ed. by J. Donald. p. 140.
External links[]
Look up drab in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Shades of brown
- Woven fabrics