dry-goods
UK[ˈdraɪ ɡʊdz]US[ˈdraɪ ɡʊdz]
n
textiles, clothing, and related merchandise, as distinguished from groceries, hardware, etc.
n
(dated) solid, non-liquid foodstuffs and household supplies, such as flour, sugar, tea, and soap.
Morpheme Breakdown
dry
goods
dry
not liquid
goods
items for sale
Etymology
The compound term "dry-goods" emerged in commercial English during the 17th century to categorize merchandise. The adjective "dry" was used to distinguish non-liquid, solid commodities from "wet goods" like oils, alcohols, or fresh produce. "Goods," deriving from the concept of "that which is good" or property, broadly covered items of trade. Thus, the term logically described a class of durable, non-perishable retail products, originally encompassing both textiles and staple foodstuffs, with its meaning narrowing over time to primarily fabrics and related articles.
Analysis
Structure: dry (not liquid) + goods (items for sale)
- dry: From Old English drȳge (free from moisture, not liquid), of Germanic origin; functions as an adjective modifying the type of goods.
- goods: From Old English gōd (in plural form gōd, meaning possessions, property), of Germanic origin; functions as a noun meaning merchandise or commodities.
Examples
She went to the store to buy fabric for a dress in the dry-goods department.
In the 19th century, a dry-goods store was a common sight in many American towns.
Their business expanded from simple dry-goods to include furniture and hardware.