Etymology

Not found in Classical Latin. First recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, probably from Frankish *drapi, *drāpi ‎(“that which is fulled, drabcloth”)^[1] from Proto-Germanic *drap-, *drēp- ‎(“something beaten”), from *drepaną ‎(“to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰrebʰ- ‎(“to beat, crush, make or become thick”)^[2]. Cognate with English drub ‎(“to beat”), Middle Low German drapen ‎(“to strike, manage, work”), German treffen ‎(“to meet”), Swedish dräpa ‎(“to slay”). More at drub.

Compare Medieval Latin alternative form trapus (Spanish trapo), possibly from or influenced by Frankish *traba, *trapa ‎(“cloth, thread, rag”), from Proto-Germanic *trabō, *trafą, *trēb ‎(“fringe, rags”), from Proto-Indo-European *dreHp- ‎(“rag”). Cognate with Old High German traba ‎(“fringe, tatters, thread”), Old Norse traf ‎(“headscarf”), Middle English trappe ‎(“trappings, personal belongings”), Middle English trappen ‎(“to outfit, deck”).

Alternate sources cite possible derivation from an unrecorded word of Gaulish origin.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈdrap.pus/, [ˈdrap.pʊs]