draggle-tail

American  

[drag-uhl-teyl] / ˈdræg əlˌteɪl /

noun

1. slut; slattern.

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Etymology

Origin of draggle-tail

First recorded in 1590–1600; draggle + tail ¹

Example Sentences

It was her pet hobby to take some neglected little draggle-tail from the workhouse and to turn her into an efficient maid-of-all-work.

From Recollections With Photogravure Portrait of the Author and a number of Original Letters, of which one by George Meredith and another by Robert Louis Stevenson are reproduced in facsimile by Murray, David Christie

She saw close to the wall some few yards away a somewhat draggle-tail figure in cloak and hood.

From Madame Flirt A Romance of 'The Beggar's Opera' by Pearce, Charles Edward

But a draggle-tail, dirty-foot slattern Would dub me ill-favoured and sallow.

From The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald by Collingwood, W. G. (William Gershom)

The long and short of it all was that I had to resume the clothes I had left behind me, and restore to Jutka the draggle-tail rags which she had charged me with spoiling.

From Eyes Like the Sea by Jókai, Mór

It will be better," said the author of The Traveller and the Deserted Village, laughing indeed, but in good earnest, "to relinquish the draggle-tail muses.

From Lives of the English Poets From Johnson to Kirke White, Designed as a Continuation of Johnson's Lives by Cary, Henry Francis