drawer

D2R1A1W4E1R1
UK/dɹɔː(ɹ)/US/dɹɔɹ/obsolete/ˈdɹɔː.əɹ/UK, person/ˈdɹɔː.ə(ɹ)/

noun

An open-topped box that can be slid in and out of the cabinet that contains it, used for storing clothing or other articles.

CommonScrabble 10

Meanings

drawer1

noundrawer (plural drawers)

plural drawers

  1. An open-topped box that can be slid in and out of the cabinet that contains it, used for storing clothing or other articles.

    He knelt down and began shoving the drawer into the slot; the rail was misaligned so he banged it with the heel of his hand. It stuck.

    2008, Jesmyn Ward, Where the Line Bleeds, Bloomsbury (2018), page 144
  2. computingA side panel containing supplementary content.
  3. attributiveAttributive form of drawers.

    Leloir described les calecons, drawer-type undergarment worn by French ladies (wc).

    1988, Nell DuVall, Domestic Technology: A Chronology of Developments, Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., →ISBN, page 366
    5 more examples

    The step-ins are of two sorts; the knicker combination with open bloomer and chemise top; and circular drawer style, with chemise top and gussets at back and front that give extra width at the bottom.

    1918, The Corset and Underwear Review, volume 12, page 74

    Customers in the underwear department at MacDougal-Southwick’s, on the other hand, have evinced quite an interest in the French drawer style, with binding in contrasting color and the separate vests also bound in the contrasting color.

    1922, The Underwear & Hosiery Review, volume 5, page 67, column 2

    Today men of every age are turning to the athletic pull-over shirt and drawer type of underwear.

    1930 April 26, directed by Amos Parrish, “What’s In Fashion: Underwear For Men”, in The Pittsburgh Press, volume XLVI, number 305, Pittsburgh, Pa., page ten, column 4

    Men’s Balbriggan Shirts and Drawers / 50ᶜ ea. / For the man who wants the shirt-and-drawer type of underwear but, naturally, wants lightweight now.

    1935 May 4, “Hand-Picked Bargains–from a Store full of them!”, in Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y., page 3, column 3

    The Sikh code of conduct does not restrict how Sikhs dress, except that they must wear kashera (drawer-type, cotton tie-able underwear) and a turban.

    2023, Gian Singh Sandhu, Who Are the Sikhs?: An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People, Bloomington, Ind.: Archway Publishing, →ISBN

drawer2

noundrawer (plural drawers)

plural drawers

  1. agentAgent noun of draw; one who draws.

    Lawyers for Mr. Abbott argued that the maps were drawn to help Republicans maintain power but not to discriminate, and that drawers did not know where district offices were located.

    2012 August 28, Manny Fernandez, “Federal Court Finds Texas Voting Maps Discriminatory”, in NYTimes.com
    1 more example

    Wanted: discreet drawer of royal bath [title] ... [T]he successful applicant for the role of "housekeeping assistant" mus also be prepared for rather less conventional tasks; such as running the Queen's bath and cleaning her priceless antiques.

    2014 January 25, Gordon Rayner, “Wanted: discreet drawer of royal bath: Buckingham Palace is seeking a housekeeping assistant for H team – just don't volunteer to change the light bulbs [online version: Wanted: an enthusiastic and proactive individual to run the Queen’s bath, 24 January 2014]”, in The Daily Telegraph, page 9
  2. An artist who primarily makes drawings.
  3. bankingOne who writes a bank draft, check/cheque, or promissory note.

    There is no doubt that the stipulation of nonguarantee of an acceptance inserted in a bill of exchange by the drawer has the effect of excluding the liability of guarantee for the indorsers as well as for the drawer.

    1913, United States Congressional Serial Set, volume 6526, page 276
  4. A barman; a person who draws the beer from the taps.

    He came down to the Pied Horse Inn, where I was a drawer, at Newmarket, twice.

    1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard
    1 more example

    When the good lieutenant applied himself to the door, he applied himself likewise to the bell; and the drawer immediately attending, he dispatched him for a file of musqueteers and a surgeon.

    1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XII, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII
  5. Someone who taps palm sap for making toddy.

    A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. These properties were known to have belonged to a toddy drawer. He had disappeared.

    1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings
  6. historicalbusinessA wagoner or person who pushes underground tubs.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

drawer · noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dʰregʰ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dʰrógʰ-e-ti
  3. Proto-Germanic*draganą
  4. Proto-West Germanic*dragan
  5. Old Englishdragan
  6. Middle Englishdrawen
  7. Englishdraw
  8. Englishdrawer

From draw (“to move by pulling”) + -er; compare French tiroir. Attested from the 16th century.

Full word history & related roots →

drawer · noun

  1. Middle Englishdrawer
  2. Englishdrawer

From Middle English drawer, from draw + -er (agent noun suffix). Attested from the 14th century.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans laai
  • laaiopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Arabic جَارُور, دُرْج
  • جَارُور (jārūr)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • دُرْج (durj)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • رَسَّام (rassām)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • رَسَّامَة (rassāma)artist who primarily makes drawings
Bulgarian чекмедже́, черто́жник
  • чекмедже́ (čekmedžé)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • черто́жник (čertóžnik)one who draws something
  • рисувач (risuvač)one who draws something
  • гра́фик (gráfik)artist who primarily makes drawings
Catalan calaix, caixó
  • calaixopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • caixóopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • dibuixantone who draws something
Chinese Cantonese 櫃桶 /柜桶, 畫家 /画家
  • 櫃桶 /柜桶open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • 畫家 /画家artist who primarily makes drawings
  • 酒保 (zau² bou²)a barman
Chinese Mandarin 抽屜 /抽屉, 畫家 /画家
  • 抽屜 /抽屉 (chōuti)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • 畫家 /画家 (huàjiā)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • 出票人 (chūpiàorén)one who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • 發票人 /发票人one who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Czech zásuvka, šuplík
  • zásuvkaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • šuplíkopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • kreslířone who draws something
  • kreslířartist who primarily makes drawings
  • kreslířkaartist who primarily makes drawings
Danish skuffe, tegner
  • skuffeopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • tegnerone who draws something
Dutch la, schuif
  • laopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • schuifopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • ladeopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • tekenaarone who draws something
  • tekenaresone who draws something
  • tekenaarartist who primarily makes drawings
  • tekenaresartist who primarily makes drawings
Esperanto tirkesto, desegnisto
  • tirkestoopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • desegnistoone who draws something
Estonian sahtel
  • sahtelopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Finnish vetolaatikko, laatikko
  • vetolaatikkoopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • laatikkoopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • piirtäjäone who draws something
  • piirtäjäartist who primarily makes drawings
  • asettajaone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
French tiroir, dessinateur
  • tiroiropen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • dessinateurone who draws something
  • dessinateurartist who primarily makes drawings
  • dessinatriceartist who primarily makes drawings
German Schublade, Zeichner
  • Schubladeopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • Zeichnerone who draws something
  • Zeichnerinone who draws something
  • Zeichnerartist who primarily makes drawings
  • Ausstellerone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • Barmanna barman
Greek συρτάρι, σχεδιαστής
  • συρτάρι (syrtári)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • σχεδιαστής (schediastís)one who draws something
  • σχεδιάστρια (schediástria)one who draws something
  • σχεδιαστής (schediastís)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • σχεδιάστρια (schediástria)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • εκδότης (ekdótis)one who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • εκδότρια (ekdótria)one who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Hebrew מגירה, מְגֵרָה
  • מגירהopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • מְגֵרָה (megerá)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • מְסַרְטֵט (mesartét)one who draws something
Hindi दराज़, ड्रॉअर
  • दराज़ (darāz)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • ड्रॉअर (ḍrŏar)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Hungarian fiók, sublót
  • fiókopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • sublótopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • rajzolóone who draws something
  • rajzolóartist who primarily makes drawings
  • illusztrátorartist who primarily makes drawings
  • kiállítóone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • kibocsátóone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • váltókibocsátóone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • intézvényezőone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • csaposa barman
Icelandic skúffa
  • skúffaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Indonesian laci, penarik
  • laciopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • penarikone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Italian cassetto, disegnatore
  • cassettoopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • disegnatoreone who draws something
Japanese 引き出し, 引出し
  • 引き出し (hikidashi)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • 引出し (hikidashi)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Korean 서랍
  • 서랍 (seorap)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Latin loculus
  • loculusopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Latvian atvilktne, zīmētājs
  • atvilktneopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • zīmētājsone who draws something
  • rasētājsone who draws something
Lithuanian stalčius, piešėjas
  • stalčiusopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • piešėjasone who draws something
  • braižytojasone who draws something
Malay laci, anak meja
  • laciopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • anak mejaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • pelukisone who draws something
Māori toroa, hautō
  • toroaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • hautōopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • kaituhione who draws something
Norwegian Bokmål skuff, skuffe
  • skuffopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • skuffeopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Persian کشو, کشنده
  • کشو (kešow)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • کشنده (kešande)one who draws something
Polish szuflada, rysownik
  • szufladaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • rysownikone who draws something
  • rysownikartist who primarily makes drawings
Portuguese gaveta, desenhista
  • gavetaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • desenhistaone who draws something
  • desenhistaartist who primarily makes drawings
  • barmana barman
Romanian sertar, desenator
  • sertaropen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • desenatorone who draws something
  • desenatoareone who draws something
  • desenatorartist who primarily makes drawings
  • desenatoareartist who primarily makes drawings
  • trăgătorone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
  • barmana barman
Russian я́щик, выдвижно́й я́щик
  • я́щик (jáščik)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • выдвижно́й я́щик (vydvižnój jáščik)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • шуфля́да (šufljáda)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • шуфля́дка (šufljádka)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • чертёжник (čertjóžnik)one who draws something
  • чертёжница (čertjóžnica)one who draws something
  • худо́жник (xudóžnik)one who draws something
  • худо́жница (xudóžnica)one who draws something
  • чертёжник (čertjóžnik)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • чертёжница (čertjóžnica)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • гра́фик (gráfik)artist who primarily makes drawings
  • трасса́нт (trassánt)one who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Slovak zásuvka, šuplík
  • zásuvkaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • šuplíkopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Spanish cajón, gaveta
  • cajónopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • gavetaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • dibujanteone who draws something
  • giradorone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Swedish byrålåda, låda
  • byrålådaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • lådaopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • tecknareone who draws something
  • trassentone who writes a bank draft, check/cheque or promissory note
Tagalog sulong
  • sulongopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Thai เก๊ะ, ลิ้นชัก
  • เก๊ะ (gé)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • ลิ้นชัก (lín-chák)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Turkish çekmece, göz
  • çekmeceopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • gözopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • çizerartist who primarily makes drawings
Ukrainian шухля́да, висувни́й я́щик
  • шухля́да (šuxljáda)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • висувни́й я́щик (vysuvnýj jáščyk)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Urdu دراز
  • دراز (darāz)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Vietnamese ngăn kéo, hộc
  • ngăn kéoopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • hộcopen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
  • hoạ sĩartist who primarily makes drawings
Welsh drôr
  • drôropen-topped box in a cabinet used for storing
Yiddish שופֿלאָד
  • שופֿלאָד (shuflod)open-topped box in a cabinet used for storing

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with drawer

All rhymes →

Sounds the same

draw (non-rhotic)draw (non-rhotic)

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

drawer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drawer

MLA

“drawer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drawer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “drawer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drawer.

Source: drawer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.