Rag Definition

răg
ragged, ragging, rags
noun
rags
A scrap of cloth.
American Heritage
A waste piece of cloth, esp. one that is old or torn.
Webster's New World
A small piece of cloth for dusting, cleaning, washing, etc.
Webster's New World
Anything considered to resemble a rag in appearance or in lack of value.
Webster's New World
Old, worn clothes.
Webster's New World
verb
ragging, rags
To tease, scold, criticize, or nag.
Webster's New World
To criticize or complain about (something).
American Heritage
To play a practical joke or jokes on.
Webster's New World
To tease or taunt (someone).
American Heritage
To play in ragtime.
Webster's New World
adjective
Made of rags.
A rag mop.
Webster's New World
Of or involved in the manufacture and sale of clothing, esp. women's clothing.
The rag trade.
Webster's New World
idiom
on the rag
  • Menstruating.
  • Irritable; grouchy.
American Heritage
chew the rag
  • to chat
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Rag

Noun

Singular:
rag
Plural:
rags

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Rag

Origin of Rag

  • Middle English ragge ultimately (probably partly by back-formation from raggi shaggy, ragged) of Old Norse origin Old Icelandic rögg tuft Swedish ragg shaggy hair

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old Norse rÇ«gg (“tuft, shagginess"). Cognate with Swedish ragg.

    From Wiktionary

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

    From Wiktionary

  • Perhaps from ragged. Compare later ragtime.

    From Wiktionary

  • Perhaps from ragged

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin uncertain.

    From Wiktionary

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