Traditional Trades & Professions Quiz – Level 1 (Easy)

An important trade guild in Medieval Europe, drapers sold cloth intended for making clothing (as opposed to upholstery or sail cloth). The term has largely fallen out of use, but survives in the fashion industry in reference to the “draping” of cloth on a mannequin during the design phase of garment construction.

A minor character in Chaucer’s famous Canterbury Tales, a haberdasher is a tradesman who deals in small, practical wares such as caps, purses, thread, etc.. In modern usage, speakers of British English associate haberdashery with consumable sewing supplies (buttons, thread, zippers, etc). North Americans understand the word “haberdashery” to mean articles of mens clothing and fashion accessories like neckties, hats, suits, and more.

Contrary to the modern usage of the term, the primary function of a cobbler has historically been to repair and sell used shoes, rather than being a “shoemaker” who manufactures new footwear.
The word “cobble” means to mend or patch, especially in the context of shoes or boots.

A sherman (also spelled “shearman”) trims sheep of their valuable wool fleece, thereby keeping the animals healthy and providing raw material for spinners and weavers. The term can also refer to a worker who removes excess nap, or directional material from a textured fabric, thereby rendering it smooth and uniform.

A hosier is someone who manufactures socks and stockings, or sells such legwear, collectively known as “hosiery.”

A farrier keeps horses healthy by trimming their hoofs and attaching (nailing on) horseshoes. This trade also commonly involves blacksmithing skills. The farrier may wholly fabricate horseshoes or modify existing ones to customize the fit.

Pronounced “lou-thee-er,” a luthier is an artisan who crafts and/or repairs stringed instruments that can be plucked or bowed. This may include various musical instruments featuring necks and sound boxes such as violins and guitars, but excludes pianos and harps.

A milliner offers hats and other fashion accessories for sale to consumers. The term “milliner” refers specifically to those who manufacture hats as well as those involved in the resale of hats and associated items.

A sawyer is a laborer who creates boards from unprocessed lumber by working a saw back and forth, often in tandem with another worker. The term “sawyer” refers particularly to those working with a pitsaw (a narrow blade held rigid by a frame), either by hand or mill-driven. The term “sawyer” is used today to refer to chainsaw operators in the logging industry.