hag

¹

[ hag ]

noun

1. an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one.

   Synonyms: shrew, virago, harridan, harpy

2. a witch or sorceress.
3. a hagfish.

hag

²

[ hag, hahg ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. bog; quagmire.
2. a firm spot or island of firm ground in a bog or marsh.

Hag.

³

abbreviation for

, Bible.

1. Haggai.

hag

¹

/ hɑːɡ; hæɡ /

noun

1. a firm spot in a bog
2. a soft place in a moor

hag

²

/ hæɡ /

noun

1. an unpleasant or ugly old woman
2. a witch
3. short for hagfish
4. obsolete.
   a female demon

Hag.

³

abbreviation for

1. Haggai

Derived Forms

• ˈhaggishly, adverb
• ˈhaggish, adjective
• ˈhagˌlike, adjective
• ˈhaggishness, noun

Other Words From

• haggish haglike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hag¹

1175–1225; Middle English hagge, Old English *hægge, akin to hægtesse witch, hagorūn spell, German Hexe witch

Origin of hag²

1250–1300; Middle English: chasm < Old Norse hǫgg a cut, ravine

Word History and Origins

Origin of hag¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse högg gap; see hew

Origin of hag²

Old English hægtesse witch; related to Old High German hagazussa, Middle Dutch haghetisse

Example Sentences

How did a pageant seeking a “role model to young and old alike” allow in such an old hag?!

From The Daily Beast

She blogs about science, religion, feminism, and sex at her blog Blag Hag.

From The Daily Beast

The hag sprang to her feet, her sullen face ghastly in the dim light, her eyes lurid with hate.

From Project Gutenberg

A wonderful merry pair, they seemed; and when Francie had crawled out of the hag, he had a great deal to consider in his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

After walking for some time he found himself in a great forest, where he saw a wretched old hag asleep under a tree.

From Project Gutenberg

The hag, again opening her shears, was already approaching the web anew, when she saw the shadow of Carlino.

From Project Gutenberg

In the North of England the elves seem to have been known as hags, for fairy rings are there known as hag tracks.

From Project Gutenberg