ragamuffin

[ rag-uh-muhf-in ]
See synonyms for ragamuffin on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a ragged, disreputable person; tatterdemalion.

  2. a child in ragged, ill-fitting, dirty clothes.

Origin of ragamuffin

1
1350–1400; Middle English Ragamoffyn, name of a demon in the poem Piers Plowman

Other words for ragamuffin

Words Nearby ragamuffin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ragamuffin in a sentence

  • "The 'ragamuffin' always speaks of his enemies with courtesy, and the filibusters love their leader," was her pointed rejoinder.

  • The giant looked contemptuously at the tailor, and said: 'You ragamuffin!

    Grimms' Fairy Tales | The Brothers Grimm
  • It is true that his father did give him a good lesson when he called the little son of the charcoal-man a ragamuffin.

    Cuore (Heart) | Edmondo De Amicis
  • The ragamuffin sat perched upon the broad shoulder and peered down at the lady with eyes of cerulean blue.

    Southern Hearts | Florence Hull Winterburn
  • "You'll not be thinking of heeding that ragamuffin boy," he ventured.

    Huntingtower | John Buchan

British Dictionary definitions for ragamuffin

ragamuffin

/ (ˈræɡəˌmʌfɪn) /


noun
  1. a ragged unkempt person, esp a child

  2. another name for ragga

Origin of ragamuffin

1
C14 Ragamoffyn, name of a demon in the poem Piers Plowman (1393); probably based on rag 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012