Rag

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ɹæɡ/

• Rhymes: -æɡ

Origin uncertain; perhaps the same word as Etymology 2, below.

Full definition of rag

Noun

1. A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.
• 2003, Peter Ackroyd, The Clerkenwell Tales, page 1:the three walls around the garden, each one of thirty-three feet, were built out of three layers of stone — pebble stone, flint and rag stone.

Verb

1. To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
2. To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.

From Old Norse rǫgg ("tuft, shagginess"). Cognate with Swedish ragg.

Noun

1. (in the plural) Tattered clothes.
• DrydenVirtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.
2. A piece of old cloth; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred, a tatter.
• MiltonCowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed,
  And fluttered into rags.
• FullerNot having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty.
3. A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
• Ben JonsonThe other zealous rag is the compositor.
• SpenserUpon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag and rag.
4. A ragged edge in metalworking.
5. (nautical, slang) A sail, or any piece of canvas.
• LowellOur ship was a clipper with every rag set.
6. (slang, pejorative) A newspaper, magazine.
7. (poker slang) A card that appears to help no one.
8. (poker slang) A low card.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become tattered.

Origin uncertain.

Verb

1. To scold or rail at; to rate; to tease; to torment; to banter.
2. (British slang) To drive a car or another vehicle in a hard, fast or unsympathetic manner.
3. To tease or torment, especially at a university; to bully, to haze.

Derived terms

• rag the puck
• rag on

Noun

1. (dated) A prank or practical joke.
2. (UK, Ireland) A society run by university students for the purpose of charitable fundraising.

Derived terms

• rag day
• rag week

Perhaps from ragged. Compare later ragtime.

Noun

1. (obsolete, US) An informal dance party featuring music played by African-American string bands. 19th c.
2. A ragtime song, dance or piece of music. from 19th c.

Anagrams

• gar