ragging

Variant of rag

noun

  1. a waste piece of cloth, esp. one that is old or torn
  2. a small piece of cloth for dusting, cleaning, washing, etc.
  3. anything considered to resemble a rag in appearance or in lack of value
    1. old, worn clothes
    2. any clothes: used humorously
  4. ☆ the axis and white, tough membrane of citrus fruits
  5. cotton and other cloth fibers used in making high-quality papers for documents, stationery, etc.
  6. Slang a newspaper, esp. one viewed with contempt

Origin: ME ragge < OE ragg- (in raggig, ragged) < ON rögg, tuft of hair < IE base *reu-, to tear up > rug, L ruere, to tumble down, rake up, rudis, rough

adjective

  1. made of rags: a rag doll
  2. Informal of or involved in the manufacture and sale of clothing, esp. women's clothing: the rag trade
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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