Sentence:  [T]he man was about fifty-two—had a ſmall cane under his arm—was dreſs'd in a dark <WSD>drab</WSD>-colour'd coat, waiſtcoat, and breeches, which ſeem'd to have seen ſome years ſervice—they were ſtill clean, and there was a little air of frugal "propretè" throughout him. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  "Particularly of colour": dull, uninteresting.