A long curtain or piece of fabric hung in loose folds, typically for privacy or decoration.
From Old French 'draper' meaning 'to weave' or 'to make cloth,' from 'drap' (cloth). Originally, a 'draper' was a cloth merchant, and the word had nothing to do with hanging fabric. The meaning shifted from making cloth to arranging cloth, then specifically to hanging fabric in graceful folds. Medieval drapers were powerful guild members who controlled the cloth trade, making them some of the wealthiest merchants in European cities.
Try Another Word