noun
haberdasher
A seller of small sewing supplies.
The haberdasher helps me choose buttons for my new coat.
Etymology
The older word named a dealer in small wares. The sewing-supplies sense preserves that retail role for items such as thread, buttons, and related goods; the deeper origin is uncertain.
More examples
- Ask the haberdasher for thread that matches this fabric.
- She buys needles and ribbon from a local haberdasher.
- Both haberdashers carry zippers in several lengths.
Forms
haberdasher · haberdashers
haberdashery noun — Small sewing supplies sold by a haberdasher.
Similar words
- merchant
- A broader term for someone who buys and sells goods.
- retailer
- Sells goods directly to customers, not necessarily sewing supplies.