Linens, cottons, and draperies. The term occurs in S. Sewall’s Diary, 1708. (N.E.D.)
1777. A cargo of rum, molasses, gin, and dry goods.—Maryland Journal, Aug. 5.
1784. Public Vendue…. A Variety of Wet and Dry Goods consisting of rum and molasses,… Irish linen, ladies’ genteel satin cloaks, &c.—Virginia Journal, Oct. 14.
1784. Harper and Fenner advertise, ex brig “Hope,” molasses, dry goods, cutlery, &c.—Id., Nov. 4.
1790. Advertisement of “Dry Goods, imported in the latest Fall Vessels.”—The Aurora, Phila., Jan. 2.
1797. The highest price will be given, “in Cash, or Dry and Wet Goods.”—Mass. Spy, Feb. 15.
1798. A few months before, he had opened up a shop for dry goods in Boston.—Id., Jan. 17.
1805. Wanted immediately, an active lad to attend in a Dry Goods Store.—Salem Register, Jan. 24.
1819. Dent and Rearick advertise Dry Goods and Groceries.—Missouri Gazette, St. Louis, Jan. 22.
1821.
| Her father kept, some fifteen years ago, | |
| A little dry-good shop in Chatham-street, | |
| And nursed his little earnings, sure though slow. | |
F. Halleck, ‘Fanny,’ verse 5. |
1833. “As you’re from Feladelphy—what a pocky tarnal great place that must be! by all accounts, may be you can tell us how dry goods in jinral is there ——?” “Dry-goods?” “Yes—needles an’ pins, and calico and cutlery an’ so forth and so forth.”—John Neal, ‘The Down-Easters,’ i. 62. [But needles, pins, and small cutlery are more properly “notions.”]
1850. At the time to which I refer, “dry goods store” meant a store in which a little of everything in the world was sold.—Mr. Benton of Missouri, U.S. Senate, Aug. 26: Cong. Globe, p. 1666.
1861. Article entitled “A Dry-Goods Jobber in 1861.”—Atlantic Monthly, vii. p. 200 (Feb.).
