Wag
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -æɡ
Origin
Middle English waggen, noun wagge, feminine root of Old English waian, (Middle English noun wae) to oscillate, shake. Compare the Old English verb waġian
The verb may be regarded as an iterative or emphatic form of waian waw, verb, which is often nearly synonymous; it was used, e.g., of a loose tooth. Parallel formations from the same root are the Old Norse vagga feminine, cradle (Swedish vagga, Dutch vugge), Swedish vagga ("to rock a cradle"), early modern German waggen (dialectal German wacken) to waver, totter. Compare waggle, verb
Full definition of wag
Verb
- To swing from side to side, especially of an animal's tail
- ShakespeareNo discerner durst wag his tongue in censure.
- Bible, Jer. xviii. 16Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
- (UK, Australia, slang) To play truant from school.
- 1848, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, xxii"My misfortunes all began in wagging, Sir; but what could I do, exceptin' wag?" "Excepting what?" said Mr. Carker. "Wag, Sir. Wagging from school." "Do you mean pretending to go there, and not going?" said Mr. Carker. "Yes, Sir, that's wagging, Sir."
- 1901, William Sylvester Walker, In the Blood, i. 13They had "wagged it" from school, as they termed it, which..meant truancy in all its forms.
- (obsolete) To be in action or motion; to move; to get along; to progress; to stir.
- Shakespeare"Thus we may see," quoth he, "how the world wags."
- (obsolete) To go; to depart.
- ShakespeareI will provoke him to 't, or let him wag.
Derived terms
- (not go to school) play the wag; hop the wag; wag it
Noun
wag
(plural wags)- An oscillating movement.The wag of my dog's tail expresses happiness.
- A witty person.