What is "dry goods"

Good \Good\, n.

1. That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; -- opposed to evil.

   There be many that say, Who will show us any good ?
   --Ps. iv. 6.

2. Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; -- opposed to harm, etc.

   The good of the whole community can be promoted only by advancing the good of each of the members composing it.
   --Jay.

3. pl. Wares; commodities; chattels; -- formerly used in the singular in a collective sense. In law, a comprehensive name for almost all personal property as distinguished from land or real property.
   --Wharton.

   He hath made us spend much good.
   --Chaucer.

   Thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice.
   --Shak.

   Dress goods, Dry goods, etc. See in the Vocabulary.

   Goods engine, a freight locomotive. [Eng.]

   Goods train, a freight train. [Eng.]

   Goods wagon, a freight car [Eng.] See the Note under Car, n., 2.

Dry goods \Dry" goods`\ A commercial name for textile fabrics, cottons, woolens, linen, silks, laces, etc., -- in distinction from groceries.

n. (context US English) Any product for sale that does not require special storage treatment, but especially textiles

Dry goods, in Commonwealth countries, is a term used to refer to dry food, with reference to pre- refrigeration days of the early 20th century. Such foods could be transported and stored without immediate danger of spoiling. Dried beans, flours, whole grains and rolled oats are examples.

In the United States, dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry-goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores.

Dry goods as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or even a century earlier. Dry goods can be carried by stores specializing only in those products (a type of specialty store), or may be carried by a general store or a department store.

Beginning in the early 20th century, as many dry goods stores expanded into other lines of merchandise, the term largely disappeared from both everyday usage and the official names of the businesses concerned.