A haberdasher sells men's clothing and accessories, or notions in British English, with origins in a term for cloth.
A haberdasher is a dealer in men's clothing and accessories or, in British English, a dealer in notions. The word derives from an Anglo-French term for a type of cloth.
| Word | haberdasher |
|---|---|
| Date | January 8, 2017 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | HAB-er-dash-er |
| Etymology | At various times throughout its history, the term haberdasher has referred to a dealer of hats or caps, a seller of notions (sewing supplies, such as needles and thimbles), and apparently (perhaps somewhat coyly) to a person who sells liquor. Nowadays, with hats not being as fashionable as they once were, the word mostly is applied generally as a clothing outfitter for men, with haberdashery referring to the establishment or the goods sold there. Haberdasher derives via Middle English from hapertas, an Anglo-French word for a kind of cloth, as does the obsolete noun haberdash, which once meant petty merchandise or small wares. |
| Examples | Mr. Watson planned to visit the haberdasher during the week to buy some new shirts for his wardrobe. "There was a time when downtown St. Louis was known for its clothing and shoe companies, haberdashers and other apparel businesses." — Julia M. Johnson, St. Louis Business Journal, 27 Oct. 2016 |
| Definition | 1 : (British) a dealer in notions (such as needles, thread, buttons, etc.) 2 : a dealer in men's clothing and accessories |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
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