drab

¹

[drab]

adjective

drabber, drabbest 

1. dull; cheerless; lacking in spirit, brightness, etc.

2. having the color drab.

noun

1. dull gray; dull brownish or yellowish gray.

2. any of several fabrics of this color, especially of thick wool or cotton.

drab

²

[drab]

noun

Archaic.

1. a dirty, untidy woman; slattern.

2. a prostitute.

verb (used without object)

drabbed, drabbing 

1. to associate with drabs.

drab

¹

/ dræb /

adjective

1. dull; dingy; shabby

2. cheerless; dreary

   a drab evening

3. of the colour drab

noun

1. a light olive-brown colour

2. a fabric of a dull grey or brown colour

drab

²

/ dræb /

noun

1. a slatternly woman

2. a whore

verb

1. (intr) to consort with prostitutes

Other Word Forms

• drabness noun
• drably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of drab¹

1535–45; < Middle French drap < Late Latin drappus piece of cloth

Origin of drab²

First recorded in 1505–15; perhaps akin to Dutch drab “dregs, lees,” obsolete Dutch drablen “to run or tramp about”; drabble, draff

Word History and Origins

Origin of drab¹

C16: from Old French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus, perhaps of Celtic origin

Origin of drab²

C16: of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic drabag

Idioms and Phrases

see dribs and drabs.

Example Sentences

It features a vintage kitchen with pink-and-white tiling, drab olive walls and industrial brown flooring.

From Los Angeles Times

"We've been going for the past 20 years or so. We normally book a year ahead then save up in dribs and drabs," she said.

From BBC

Without planning, a landscape of California native plants can feel a little drab, especially in late summer when many go dormant.

From Los Angeles Times

“What happens if you have bad actors who decide to throw on an olive drab outfit and go around abducting people?”

From Los Angeles Times

A typical Monday afternoon in Compton was shattered for several neighbors who saw, to their surprise, a drab green military-style vehicle roll up.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bleak 
• desolate 
• dingy 
• dismal 
• dreary 
• gray 
• lackluster 
• muddy 
• run down 
• shabby 
• somber