An archaic or variant spelling of 'crape' or 'crepe', a thin fabric with a wrinkled surface, often used for mourning clothes or decorative purposes.
From French 'crêpe' (wrinkled), from Latin 'crispus' (curled or wrinkled). The spelling variation 'crpe' represents older or incomplete modern notation.
Mourning etiquette in Victorian Britain made 'crape' the required fabric for grief wear—widows' 'weeds' and 'crape' arm bands were so standardized that fabric merchants had entire warehouses dedicated to black crape.
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