From Middle English drape (“a drape”, noun), from Old French draper (“to drape; to full cloth”), from drap (“cloth, drabcloth”), from Late Latin drappus, drapus (“drabcloth, kerchief”), a word first recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, probably from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”, literally “that which is struck or for striking”), from Proto-Germanic *drapiz (“a strike, hit, blow”) and Proto-Germanic *drēpiz (“intended for striking, to be beaten”), both from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreb- (“to beat, crush, make or become thick”). Cognate with English drub (“to beat”), North Frisian dreep (“a blow”), Low German drapen, dräpen (“to strike”), German treffen (“to meet”), Swedish dräpa (“to slay”). More at drub.
Meanings
A curtain; a drapery.
The way in which fabric falls or hangs.
The herringbone-twill sample is soft and smooth, with an easy drape that allows the fabric to move beautifully. 2026, Samantha Haring, “A Pair of New Tencels for Effortless Weaving”, in Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 74:
(US) A member of a youth subculture distinguished by its sharp dress, especially peg-leg pants (1950s: e.g. Baltimore, MD). Antonym: square.
A dress made from an entire piece of cloth, without having pieces cut away as in a fitted garment.
From Middle English drape (“a drape”, noun), from Old French draper (“to drape; to full cloth”), from drap (“cloth, drabcloth”), from Late Latin drappus, drapus (“drabcloth, kerchief”), a word first recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, probably from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi (“that which is fulled, drabcloth”, literally “that which is struck or for striking”), from Proto-Germanic *drapiz (“a strike, hit, blow”) and Proto-Germanic *drēpiz (“intended for striking, to be beaten”), both from *drepaną (“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreb- (“to beat, crush, make or become thick”). Cognate with English drub (“to beat”), North Frisian dreep (“a blow”), Low German drapen, dräpen (“to strike”), German treffen (“to meet”), Swedish dräpa (“to slay”). More at drub.
Meanings
(transitive) To cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery.
to drape a bust, a building, etc.
The pair sat before a brilliant gold Buddha statue inside the ornate temple, built 150 years ago by the former Thai King – the supreme patriarch barefoot and draped in orange robes as they spoke. 2019 November 21, “Pope Francis meets Thai Buddhist patriarch on visit promoting religious peace”, in The Straits Times, SPH Digital News, retrieved 22 Nov 2019:
These starry blossoms, pure and white, / Soft falling, falling, through the night, / Have draped the woods and mere. a. 1892, George Washington Bungay, The Artists of the Air:
The whole people were still draped professionally. 1840, Thomas De Quincey, Theory of Greek Tragedy:
(transitive) To spread over, cover.
I draped my towel over the radiator to dry.
I cycled the three miles each morning between hedges draped with spangled cobwebs and berried bryony. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 216:
To rail at; to banter.
1672-679, William Temple, Memoirs
At my Arrival , the King asked me many questions about my Journey, about the Congress, draping us for spending him so money
To make cloth.
To design drapery, arrange its folds, etc., as for hangings, costumes, statues, etc.
bg драпирам (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · cs zakrýt (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · uk вкриватися (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · fi drapeerata (to design drapery, arrange its folds, etc.) · cs rozvěsit (to hang or rest limpily) · uk покривати (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · uk завішувати (to hang or rest limpily) · it tappezzare (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · uk загортатися (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · nl bekleden (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · uk вкривати (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · pt drapejar (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · uk драпірувати (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · et drapeerima (to design drapery, arrange its folds, etc.) · fr draper (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · cs pokrýt (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · mi tiepa (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · cs přehodit (to hang or rest limpily) · bg обвивам (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing) · sv drapera (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · uk висіти (to hang or rest limpily) · et drapeerima (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · fi roikkua (to hang or rest limpily) · de drapieren (to design drapery, arrange its folds, etc.) · fi drapeerata (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · it drappeggiare (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · mi tiepa (to hang or rest limpily) · cs přikrýt (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · fi peittää (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · de drapieren (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · es acomodar (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · it tappezzare (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · sv drapera (to design drapery, arrange its folds, etc.) · ro drapa (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · fi hassutella (to rail at; to banter) · ota زارلامق (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · es drapear (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · es colocar (to cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with drapery) · fi peittää (To spread over, to cover with cloth or clothing)