NYT Dictionary

DRAB

/dɹæb/
NounAdjectiveVerbDRABGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A fabric, usually of thick cotton or wool, having a dull brownish yellow, dull grey, or dun colour.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Probably from Middle French and Old French drap (“cloth”), either: * from Late Latin drappus (“drabcloth, kerchief; piece of cloth”), most likely from Gaulish *drappo, from Proto-Indo-European *drep- (“to scratch, tear”); or * from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”), from Proto-Germanic *drap-, *drēp- (“something beaten”), from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrebʰ- (“to beat, crush; to make or become thick”). The English word is cognate with Ancient Greek δρέπω (drépō, “to pluck”), Avestan 𐬛𐬭𐬀𐬟𐬱𐬀 (drafša, “banner, flag”), Lithuanian drãpanos (“household linens”), Old Norse trefja (“to rub, wear out”), trof (“fringes”), Sanskrit द्रापि (drāpi, “mantle, gown”), Serbo-Croatian drápati (“to scratch, scrape”)).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

drabclothNB: All terms are usually pejorative unless stated otherwise.304alley catalleycatamoretteamoretamorosaarticleAthanasian wench

Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 12 recorded puzzles:

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