Hab"er*dash"er (?), n. [Prob. fr. Icel. hapurtask trumpery, trifles, perh. through French. It is possibly akin to E. haversack, and to Icel. taska trunk, chest, pocket, G. tasche pocket, and the orig. sense was perh., peddler's wares.]
1.
A dealer in small wares, as tapes, pins, needles, and thread; also, a hatter.
[Obs.]
The haberdasher heapeth wealth by hats.
Gascoigne.
2.
A dealer in drapery goods of various descriptions, as laces, silks, trimmings, etc.
© Webster 1913.