haberdashery
haberdashery Lexical Profile
haberdashery Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British Small articles and supplies used in sewing and dressmaking, such as buttons, zippers, ribbons, needles, and thread, or the department that sells them.
"She visited the haberdashery department on the second floor to find matching silk thread and mother-of-pearl buttons for her coat."
North American A retail shop that sells men's clothing, hats, shirts, and accessories.
"Before opening his own menswear boutique, he worked for ten years at a classic downtown haberdashery."
North American Men's clothing, furnishings, and accessories, such as shirts, ties, hats, and cufflinks, sold by a haberdasher.
"The catalog featured fine Italian suits alongside an assortment of silk ties, fedoras, and other upscale haberdashery."
Word Nuance & Usage
The meaning of 'haberdashery' differs sharply between British and American English: in the UK, it refers to small sewing and dressmaking supplies (such as buttons, ribbons, and thread), whereas in the US, it refers to a shop or goods involving men's clothing and accessories.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating back to the 14th century, the word derives from 'haberdasher' plus the suffix '-y', probably from Anglo-Norman 'hapertas', designating a kind of fabric or small merchandise of uncertain ultimate origin.