Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Apparel \Ap*par"el\, n. [OE. apparel, apareil, OF. apareil,
   appareil, preparation, provision, furniture, OF. apareiller
   to match, prepare, F. appareiller; OF. a (L. ad) + pareil
   like, similar, fr. LL. pariculus, dim. of L. par equal. See
   {Pair}.]
   1. External clothing; vesture; garments; dress; garb;
      external habiliments or array.

            Fresh in his new apparel, proud and young. --Denham.

            At public devotion his resigned carriage made
            religion appear in the natural apparel of
            simplicity.                           --Tatler.

   2. A small ornamental piece of embroidery worn on albs and
      some other ecclesiastical vestments.

   3. (Naut.) The furniture of a ship, as masts, sails, rigging,
      anchors, guns, etc.

   Syn: Dress; clothing; vesture; garments; raiment; garb;
        costume; attire; habiliments.

Apparel \Ap*par"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Appareled}, or
   {Apparelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Appareling}, or
   {Apparelling}.] [OF. apareiller.]
   1. To make or get (something) ready; to prepare. [Obs.]
      --Chaucer.

   2. To furnish with apparatus; to equip; to fit out.

            Ships . . . appareled to fight.       --Hayward.

   3. To dress or clothe; to attire.

            They which are gorgeously appareled, and live
            delicately, are in kings' courts.     --Luke vii.
                                                  25.

   4. To dress with external ornaments; to cover with something
      ornamental; to deck; to embellish; as, trees appareled
      with flowers, or a garden with verdure.

            Appareled in celestial light.         --Wordsworth.

Source : WordNet®

apparel
     n : clothing in general; "she was refined in her choice of
         apparel"; "he always bought his clothes at the same
         store"; "fastidious about his dress" [syn: {wearing
         apparel}, {dress}, {clothes}]
     v : provide with clothes or put clothes on; "Parents must feed
         and dress their child" [syn: {dress}, {clothe}, {enclothe},
          {garb}, {raiment}, {tog}, {garment}, {habilitate}, {fit
         out}] [ant: {undress}]