draper
UK[ˈdreɪpə]US[ˈdreɪpər]
n
A dealer in cloth or dry goods.
Morpheme Breakdown
drap
er
drap
cloth
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'draper' entered English from Anglo-French 'draper' in the 14th century, a term for a maker or seller of woolen cloth. Its ultimate root is the Late Latin 'drappus' or 'drappum', a word of obscure, possibly Celtic origin, meaning 'piece of cloth'. The semantic journey is direct and occupational: from a general term for cloth, the agent suffix '-er' was applied to specify the person whose trade involved this material. This formation follows a common pattern in English for creating occupational nouns, such as 'baker' or 'brewer', solidifying its meaning as a merchant specializing in fabrics.
Analysis
Structure: drap (cloth) + er (agent suffix)
drap: Origin: Old French 'drap', meaning 'cloth, sheet'. Functional role: The core semantic root indicating the material or goods.
er: Origin: Old English '-ere', an agent noun suffix. Functional role: Denotes a person who performs an action or is associated with something (e.g., a dealer in cloth).
Examples
The local draper supplied the fabric for her wedding dress.
In the 19th century, a draper's shop would have been filled with rolls of linen, wool, and silk.
His family business, originally established as a draper, eventually evolved into a large department store.