HABERDASHER. A tradesman who sells by retail small articles used in the making or wearing of dress, such as sewing cottons or silks, tapes, buttons, pins and needles, and the like. The sale of such articles is not generally carried on alone, and a "haberdashery counter" usually forms a department of drapers' shops. The word is of obscure origin. The Haberdashers' company is one of the greater Livery companies of the City of London. Originally a branch of the mercers, the fraternity took over the selling of "small wares," which included not only articles similar to those sold as "haberdashery" now, but such things as gloves, daggers, glass, pens, lanterns, mousetraps, and the like. They were thus on this side connected with Milliners. On the other hand there was early a fusion with the old gild of the "Hurers," or cap makers, and the hatters, and by the reign of Henry VII. the amalgamation was complete. There were long recognized two branches of haberdashers, the haberdashers of "small wares," and haberdashers of hats (see LIVERY COMPANIES).