drapery
UK: ˈdreɪpəri | US: ˈdreɪpəri
n. decorative fabric hung loosely in folds, especially as curtains or wall coverings
n. the trade or business of a draper (a dealer in cloth or dry goods)
drapery = drap<cloth> + ery<noun suffix denoting place or trade>
- drap (from Old French drap, meaning "cloth" or "fabric")
- ery (a suffix of Old French origin, used to form nouns indicating a place, trade, or collective function)
Etymology Origin:
The word drapery traces back to the Old French drapier (a cloth merchant), derived from drap (cloth). The suffix -ery was added to denote the trade or the collective output (e.g., fabric hangings). Over time, the term shifted from referring to the trade itself to the decorative fabrics typically sold or used by drapers. The evolution reflects the medieval European textile trade's cultural and economic significance.
The heavy drapery in the theater muffled all outside noise.
She chose silk drapery for the living room to add elegance.
The drapery business flourished in 18th-century London.
The sunlight filtered softly through the sheer drapery.
He inherited his father’s drapery shop in the town center.