drape
UK[dreɪp]US[dreɪp]
v
To arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely or casually on or around something.
v
To cover, adorn, or hang with cloth in loose folds.
n
The way in which a fabric hangs or falls, especially in clothing or furnishings.
Etymology
The word 'drape' entered Middle English from Old French 'draper', meaning to weave cloth or to cover with cloth. This Old French term derived from 'drap', meaning cloth, which itself came from Late Latin 'drappus' or 'drappum', a word of uncertain but likely Celtic origin referring to a piece of cloth. The ultimate source may be a Gaulish word related to fabric. The semantic journey is direct and tangible: from a concrete noun for cloth, to the verb for the action of covering with cloth, and finally to the abstract noun describing the resulting arrangement or fall of the fabric. The modern sense retains this core connection to fabric and its arrangement.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It entered English as a whole from French, ultimately tracing back to Latin and Greek. Its core concept relates to cloth and weaving.
Examples
She carefully draped the shawl over her shoulders.
The windows were draped with heavy velvet curtains.
The designer admired the elegant drape of the silk gown.