rag
/ɹæɡ/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms rags ragging ragged the Rag
- noun (especially in the plural) Tattered clothes (clothing). “—What a pretty dress! —What, this old rag?”
- noun A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning, patching, etc.; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred or tatter.
- noun (derogatory) A shabby, beggarly person; synonym of ragamuffin.
- noun A ragged edge in metalworking.
- noun (nautical, slang) A sail, or any piece of canvas.
- noun (singular or plural, slang) Sanitary napkins, pads, or other materials used to absorb menstrual discharge.
- noun (slang, derogatory) A newspaper or magazine, especially one whose journalism is considered to be of poor quality.
- noun (poker) A poor, low-ranking kicker. “I have ace-four on my hand. In other words, I have ace-rag.”
- verb (transitive) To decorate (a wall, etc.) by applying paint with a rag.
- verb (intransitive) To become tattered.
- verb (intransitive, vulgar, slang, sometimes euphemistic) To menstruate.
- noun A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.
- verb To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
- verb To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
- verb To scold or tell off; to torment; to banter.
- verb (UK slang) To drive a car or another vehicle in a hard, fast, or unsympathetic manner.
- verb To tease or torment, especially at a university; to bully, to haze.
- verb (transitive, cynology) Of dogs, to bite an object, often a toy or leash, and vigorously shake their head.
- noun (dated) A prank or practical joke.
- noun (UK, Ireland) A society run by university students for the purpose of charitable fundraising.
Synonyms
fish wrap rough beat thrash Rag and Famish shred tag tag end tatter rag week ragtime tabloid sheet torment bedevil crucify dun frustrate annoy get to bother get at irritate rile nark nettle gravel vex chafe devil
Etymology
From Middle English ragge, from Old English ragg (suggested by derivative raggiġ (“shaggy; bristly; ragged”)), from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft; shagginess”), from Proto-Germanic *rawwa-, probably related to *rūhaz. Cognate with Swedish ragg. Related to rug.
Unknown origin; perhaps the same word as Etymology 1, above.
Uncertain. Ideas about the scolding and tormenting senses being related to on the rag are only speculative.
Perhaps from ragged. Compare later ragtime.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To scold or rail at; to rate; to tease; to torment; to banter.
- noun A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred; a tatter; a fragment.
- noun pl.
- verb To become tattered. [Obs.]
Etymology [Cf. Icel. rægja to calumniate, OHG, ruogen to accuse, G. rügen to censure, AS. wregan, Goth. wrohjan to accuse.]
Etymology [OE. ragge, probably of Scand, origin; cf. Icel. rögg rough hair. Cf. Rug, n.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “rag”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details