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definitions

rag

1
[rag]
See more synonyms for rag on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn.
  2. rags, ragged or tattered clothing: The tramp was dressed in rags.
  3. any article of apparel regarded deprecatingly or self-deprecatingly, especially a dress: It's just an old rag I had in the closet.
  4. a shred, scrap, or fragmentary bit of anything.
  5. Informal.
    1. something of very low value or in very poor condition.
    2. a newspaper or magazine regarded with contempt or distaste: Are you still subscribing to that rag?
  6. a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.
  7. a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.
Idioms
  1. chew the rag. chew(def 11).
  2. from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth: He went from rags to riches in only three years.

Origin of rag

1
1275–1325; Middle English ragge < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg coarse hair < Old Norse rǫgg

rag

2
[rag]Informal.
verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.
  1. to scold.
  2. to subject to a teasing, especially in an intense or prolonged way (often followed by on): Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.
  3. British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.
noun
  1. British. an act of ragging.

Origin of rag

2
First recorded in 1790–1800; origin uncertain

rag

3
[rag]
verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.
  1. to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.

Origin of rag

3
First recorded in 1870–75; origin uncertain

rag

4
[rag]
noun
  1. a musical composition in ragtime: a piano rag.
verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.
  1. to play (music) in ragtime.

Origin of rag

4
First recorded in 1895–1900; shortened form of ragtime
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for rag

needle, scrap, remnant, shred, tatter, dishrag, dustcloth, wiper, flitter, razz, tease, fragment, josh, banter, scold, patch, harass, joke, frazzle, rib

Examples from the Web for rag

Contemporary Examples of rag

Historical Examples of rag

  • We set it, double-reefed, which made it but a rag of a sail, and yet the ship felt it directly.

    Ned Myers

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • Every rag of raiment that man has on he stole from my husband's wardrobe at the Hall.

    In the Valley

    Harold Frederic

  • You'll feel like a rag by to-morrow, and then I hope you'll take a good rest.

    The Harbor

    Ernest Poole

  • Dra—— the owld man, but he'll have every rag off the back of me!

  • "I suppose that depends on your definition of fame—and of a rag," Eric answered.

British Dictionary definitions for rag

rag

1
noun
    1. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
    2. (as modifier)a rag doll; a rag book; rag paper
  2. a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
  3. informal a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
  4. informal an item of clothing
  5. informal a handkerchief
  6. British slang esp nautical a flag or ensign
  7. lose one's rag to lose one's temper suddenly
See also rags

Word Origin for rag

C14: probably back formation from ragged, from Old English raggig; related to Old Norse rögg tuft

rag

2
verb rags, ragging or ragged (tr)
  1. to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
  2. British to play rough practical jokes on
noun
  1. British a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
  2. (in British universities)
    1. a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
    2. (as modifier)rag day

Word Origin for rag

C18: of uncertain origin

rag

3
noun
  1. a piece of ragtime music
verb rags, ragging or ragged
  1. (tr) to compose or perform in ragtime

Word Origin for rag

C20: shortened from ragtime

rag

4
noun
  1. a roofing slate that is rough on one side

Word Origin for rag

C13: of obscure origin
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
Word Origin and History for rag
n.

scrap of cloth, early 14c., probably from Old Norse rögg "shaggy tuft," earlier raggw-, or possibly from Old Danish rag (see rug), or a back-formation from ragged, It also may represent an unrecorded Old English cognate of Old Norse rögg. Watkins traces the Old Norse word through Proto-Germanic *rawwa-, from PIE root *reue- "to smash, knock down, tear up, uproot" (see rough (adj.)).

As an insulting term for "newspaper, magazine" it dates from 1734; slang for "tampon, sanitary napkin" is attested from 1930s (on the rag "menstruating" is from 1948). Rags "personal clothing" is from 1855 (singular), American English. Rags-to-riches "rise from poverty to wealth" is attested by 1896. Rag-picker is from 1860; rag-shop from 1829.

v.

"scold," 1739, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Danish dialectal rag "grudge." Related: Ragged; ragging. Cf. bullyrag, ballarag "intimidate" (1807).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with rag

rag

In addition to the idiom beginning with rag

  • rag doll

also see:

  • chew the fat (rag)
  • from rags to riches
  • glad rags
  • run ragged
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.