shaggy

American  

[shag-ee] / ˈʃæg i /

adjective

shaggier, shaggiest

1. covered with or having long, rough hair.

2. untidy; unkempt.

   a shaggy person.

3. rough and matted; forming a bushy mass, as the hair or mane.

4. having a rough nap, as cloth.

5. characterized by sloppy planning or execution.

   a shaggy production of Macbeth.

---

shaggy British  

/ ˈʃæɡɪ /

adjective

1. having or covered with rough unkempt fur, hair, wool, etc

   a shaggy dog

2. rough or unkempt

3. (in textiles) having a nap of long rough strands

---

Other Word Forms

• shaggily adverb
• shagginess noun

Etymology

Origin of shaggy

First recorded in 1580–90; shag ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

He put his arms as far as they would reach about her neck and laid his head on her shaggy wool.

From Literature

Across the aisle, a young man with shaggy hair and a tweed blazer noticed the book on my lap.

From The Wall Street Journal

He scooped up a shaggy white poodle who didn’t look very happy about what was about to happen.

From Literature

In 1634, Rembrandt attempted to depict a lion for a scene of “St. Jerome Reading,” but Rubinstein said the shaggy creature in the print wasn’t realistic.

From The Wall Street Journal

His shaggy, blond hair was caught under a blue knit winter hat, and his checkered flannel coat guarded him from the winter weather that still chilled the air in late March.

From Literature

Related Words

• furry
• long-haired