drab´ness

drab¹ «drab», adjective, drab|ber, drab|best, noun, verb,drabbed, drab|bing.

–adj.

1. lacking brightness or color; not attractive; dull: »

the drab houses of the smoky mining town.Figurative. The life of a person who never does anything is dull and drab.

SYNONYM(S): monotonous, unattractive.

2. dull brownish- or yellowish-gray. SYNONYM(S): dun.

–n.

1. a dull, brownish gray or yellowish gray.

2. a cloth of natural or undyed color.

–v.t.

1. to treat (hair, especially after bleaching) so as to remove excess color or glare.

2. to cause (a person) to look drab.

╂[earlier drap kind of cloth Old French; see etym. under drape (Cf. ↑drape)]

–drab´ly, adverb.

–drab´ness, noun.

drab² «drab», noun, verb, drabbed, drab|bing.

–n.

1. a dirty, untidy woman. SYNONYM(S): slut, slattern.

2. = prostitute. (Cf. ↑prostitute) SYNONYM(S): harlot, strumpet.

–v.i.

to associate with prostitutes.

╂[origin uncertain. Compare Irish drabog, Scottish Gaelic dràbag slattern.]

drab³ «drab», noun.

a small amount, quantity, or sum.

● ↑in dribs and drabs,

╂[origin uncertain]