ragging
- (in the rolls of a rolling mill) corrugations affording a grip on a piece being roughed.
Origin of ragging
rag2
- to scold.
- 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.
- British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.
- British. an act of ragging.
Origin of rag2
rag3
- to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.
Origin of rag3
rag4
- a musical composition in ragtime: a piano rag.
- to play (music) in ragtime.
Origin of rag4
Examples from the Web for ragging
Historical Examples
The farce of their performance is heightened by ragging from the courtiers.
William ShakespeareJohn Masefield
They lay there for few minutes, talking and ragging aimlessly.
The Longest JourneyE. M. Forster
Refusing to say 'Good night' to the beast because he was ragging me.
The HillHorace Annesley Vachell
We got ragging over the dessert and Mrs. Rose stole my grapes——?
The Making of a SoulKathlyn Rhodes
That's Netta's fault; she starts all the ragging and throws it on to Gwen.
The Youngest Girl in the FifthAngela Brazil
rag1
- a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
- (as modifier)a rag doll; a rag book; rag paper
- a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
- informal a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
- informal an item of clothing
- informal a handkerchief
- British slang esp nautical a flag or ensign
- lose one's rag to lose one's temper suddenly
Word Origin
rag2
- to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
- British to play rough practical jokes on
- British a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
- (in British universities)
- a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
- (as modifier)rag day
Word Origin
rag3
- a piece of ragtime music
- (tr) to compose or perform in ragtime
Word Origin
rag4
- a roofing slate that is rough on one side
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for ragging
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.
rag
v.
"scold," 1739, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Danish dialectal rag "grudge." Related: Ragged; ragging. Cf. bullyrag, ballarag "intimidate" (1807).
Idioms and Phrases with ragging
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