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

Synonyms:

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

Synonyms:

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

on the rag
chew the 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