What does apparel mean?
The definition of apparel
Ap*par”el, n.
Etym: [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.

Synonyms
— Dress; clothing; vesture; garments; raiment; garb; costume; attire; habiliments.

Ap*par”el, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Appareled, or Apparelled; p. pr. & vb.n. Appareling, or Apparelling.]
Etym: [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.