The origin of words: DRAPE

Drape dates back to the late 14th century, as a verb that originally meant ‘to decorate with cloth hangings,’ and ‘to weave into cloth.’ It came into English from the Old French verb draper (to weave or make cloth), which was formed from the Old French noun drap (a piece of cloth, a sheet or a bandage). It can be traced back to the Late Latin noun drapus, which some linguists think is of Gaulish origin. It is related to the Old Irish drapih (mantle or garment). The meaning ‘to cover with drapery’ dates back to the mid-19th century, while ‘to cause to hand or stretch out loosely or carelessly’ is from the mid-20th century. The noun comes from the verb, and dates back to the mid-17th century.