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• dag
  dag

  noun

  one of a series of decorative scallops or foliations along the edge of a garment, cloth, etc.
• Dag
  Dag

  noun

  a male given name.

dag

¹ American  

[dag] / dæg /

noun

1. one of a series of decorative scallops or foliations along the edge of a garment, cloth, etc.

2. Scot. daglock.

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verb (used with object)

dagged, dagging

1. to edge (a garment, cloth, etc.) with decorative scallops or the like.

dag ² American  

[dag] / dæg /

noun

Australian and New Zealand Informal.

1. an amusing, unusual person.

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dag ³ American  

abbreviation

1. dekagram; dekagrams.

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Dag ⁴ American  

[dahg, dag] / dɑg, dæg /

noun

1. a male given name.

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dag ¹ British  

/ dæɡ /

noun

1. short for daglock

2. informal to hurry up

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verb

1. to cut the daglock away from (a sheep)

dag ² British  

/ dæɡ /

noun

1. a character; eccentric

2. a person who is untidily dressed

3. a person with a good sense of humour

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Other Word Forms

• dagger
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dag¹

1350–1400; Middle English dagge < ?; compare Old French dague dagger

Origin of dag²

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dag Dag dagged dagging

The worker stabbed the loamy soil with a hoe dag, dropped in a delicate sequoia seedling and tamped the dirt tight around it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2023

I’m ‘a get a scholarship to King’s College/ I prob’ly shouldn’t brag, but dag/ I amaze and astonish.”

From Washington Post ● Jan. 29, 2016

Peter Ustinov, playing an unmarried remittance man who has to beat the girls off with a waddy, makes a comical old dag.

From Time Magazine Archive

“I don’t dwell on it too much because I’m not in a negative position. But you do say, ‘Well, dag, man, I should have done this or that.’

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

An anonymous writer says that dag means a fish-boat; and that the word which is translated whale, should have been preserver; a criticism inconsistent with itself, and void of authority.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 97, September 6, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

Of more than 200 films shown during the 10-day festival, 22 will compete for the coveted Golden Bear, which was won last year by the drama "Dreams" from Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

Dag Encke, the zoo's director, said the decision came after "yearslong consideration", and that the culling of animals can be a "legitimate last resort to preserve the population".

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2025

North Dakota Gov. Dag Borgheim also launched his presidential campaign this week.

From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2023

Then, he quoted Dag Hammarskjöld, former Secretary-General of the United Nations: “’For all that has been—thanks.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2023

Dag, I’m thinking, it wasn’t like Char was ripping out the sink.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Today he wore flashing cloth-of-silver, with dagged sleeves so long the ends of them pooled on the floor.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Her long dagged sleeves showed a lining of gold satin.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Over the hawberk is a garment, perhaps of leather with a dagged skirt-edge, and over this again is a sleeveless gambeson or pourpoint of leather or quilted work, studded and enriched.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

I never dagged my petticoats in my life, and I've no opinion o' that sort o' religion.'

From Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot

These welts were "embroidered, indented, waved, furred, chisel-punched, dagged," as well as turreted.

From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Alice Morse Earle

He may not be able to put it in words, but easterly haars, chilling rimes, drizzling mists, dagging fogs, and soddening rains speak eloquently to him of the meaning of climate.

From Meteorology or Weather Explained by J. G. M'Pherson