haberdash

present singular third person haberdashes · participle present haberdashing · participle past haberdashed · past haberdashed

1. To deal in small wares, or provide with wares.

   VVhat meane dull ſoules, in this high meaſure / To haberdaſh / In earths baſe vvares, vvhoſe greateſt treaſure / Is droſſe and traſh?

   1635, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Canto V. Pro[verbs] XXIII. V.”, in Emblemes, London: […] G[eorge] M[iller] and sold at at Iohn Marriots shope […], →OCLC, book II, stanza 5, page 82

   1 more example

   “‘No way-stops,’ says I to Solly, ‘except long enough to get you barbered and haberdashed. This is no Texas feet shampetter,’ says I, ‘where you eat chili-concarne-con-huevos and then holler “Whoopee!” across the plaza. We’re now going against the real high life. We’re going to mingle with the set that carries a Spitz, wears spats, and hits the ground in high spots.’

   1907, O. Henry, Heart of the West, Seats of the Haughty

1. archaicuncountableSmallware, haberdashery.