drawer

• (box)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /dɹɔː(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /dɹɔɹ/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)
  • Homophone: draw (non-rhotic)

• (person)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɔː.ə(ɹ)/, (intrusive R) /ˈdɹɔːɹə(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɔ.ɚ/, (intrusive R) /ˈdɹɔɹɚ/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɑ.ɚ/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɔːə(ɹ)

From draw (“to move by pulling”) +‎ -er; compare French tiroir. Attested from the 16th century.[1]

drawer (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.
2. (graphical user interface) A side panel containing supplementary content.
3. Attributive form of drawers.
   • 1918, The Corset and Underwear Review, volume 12, page 74:

     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.

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

     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.

   • 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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.

Middle English drawer, from draw +‎ -er (agent noun suffix). Attested from the 14th century.[2]

drawer (plural drawers)

1. Agent noun of draw; one who draws.
   • 2012 August 28, Manny Fernandez, “Federal Court Finds Texas Voting Maps Discriminatory”, in NYTimes.com‎:

     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.

   • 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:

     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.

2. An artist who primarily makes drawings.
3. (banking) One who writes a bank draft, check/cheque, or promissory note.
   • 1913, United States Congressional Serial Set, volume 6526, page 276:

     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.

4. A barman; a person who draws the beer from the taps.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XII, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII:

     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.

   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

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

5. Someone who taps palm sap for making toddy.
   • 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:

     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.

6. (mining, historical) A wagoner or person who pushes underground tubs.

• draughtsman (definition 2)

• drawers

• Warder, redraw, reward, warder, warred