a dealer in fabrics and sewing materials (and sometimes in clothing and drygoods)
"The old draper sold bolts of silk, yards of cotton, and patterns for dresses to the women in town."
One who sells cloths; a dealer in cloths.
"The local draper helped me select silk fabric for my new curtains."
In plain English: A draper is someone who owns and runs a shop that sells fabrics for making clothes.
"The draper helped me choose some new curtains for my living room window."
Usage: The term draper is now archaic and rarely used outside of historical contexts or specific theatrical roles, so modern speakers should generally prefer the more common terms clothier or fabric merchant. Avoid using it to describe anyone selling curtains or other textiles unless referring specifically to a traditional shopkeeper in an old-fashioned setting.
An English occupational surname for a draper (cloth merchant).
"The genealogist confirmed that Draper was an old English occupational surname originally given to cloth merchants."
The word comes from the Old French drapier, which combined a root meaning "cloth" with a suffix indicating an agent or worker. It entered English through Middle English and Anglo-Norman to describe someone who sells or makes cloth.