▪ I. † ˈhaberdash, n. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 haburdassh, -dashe, haberdash(e.
[app. = AF. hapertas, of unknown origin, perh. the name of a fabric, which occurs in an Anglo-Fr. customs list of imported peltry, furs, and fabrics, where a parallel and nearly contemporary list has haberdassherie. But the English word may, from its date and sense, be a back-formation from haberdasher, and hapertas may be only a bad AF. spelling of it.
Connexion with mod.Icel. haprtask ‘haversack’ is not possible.]
Petty merchandise, small wares.
| 1419 Liber Albus (Rolls) I. 225 La charge de hapertas, xiid.] 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 1295, I have an hole armory of such haburdashe in store. 1578 T. N. tr. Conq. W. India 23 With great store of Haberdash, as bels, necklaces, beades of glasse, collers, points, pinnes, purses, needels, girdels, threed, knives, sissers, pinsers, hammers, hatchets, shirts, Coyfes, headkerchiefs..breeches, coates, clokes, caps, Marriners breeches. 1648 Gage West Ind. 17 To barter with the Spaniards for their small Haberdash, or Iron, Knives, or such things which may help them in their Wars. |
| fig. 1550–3 Answ. Papystycall Exhort. A viij b, Ye vtter soche trashe And pylde haberdashe As laye longe in your mynde. |
b. More frequently, haberdash ware, haberdash wares.
| 1477 Inv. Goods in Earwaker Lanc. Wills (Chetham Soc.) 3 In Dyvers Haburdasshware xs. c 1550 Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 16 All haberdashe wares, as paper, bothe whyte and browne, glasses [etc.]. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. v. iii. (ed. 7) 533 All sorts of Mercery or Haberdash Ware. 1625 Purchas Pilgrims ii. 1644 One hundred and twentie pieces of Carsies..with divers small Haberdash wares. |
▪ II. † ˈhaberdash, v. Obs.
[f. haberdasher.]
intr. To deal in haberdashery or small wares.
| 1635 Quarles Embl. ii. v. (1718) 82 To haberdash In Earth's base wares. 1644 ― Sheph. Orac. iv, Leave to haberdash In such small pedling wares. |