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Synonyms

tatterdemalion

American  
[tat-er-di-meyl-yuhn, -mal-] / ˌtæt ər dɪˈmeɪl yən, -ˈmæl- /

noun

  1. a person in tattered clothing; a shabby person.


adjective

  1. ragged; unkempt or dilapidated.

tatterdemalion British  
/ ˌtætədɪˈmeɪljən, -ˈmæl- /

noun

  1. rare

    1. a person dressed in ragged clothes

    2. ( as modifier )

      a tatterdemalion dress

"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

Etymology

Origin of tatterdemalion

1600–10; first written tatter-de-mallian and rhymed with Italian; tatter 1; -de-mallian < ?

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Off it flaps on tatterdemalion wings to wreak much CG-enabled property damage on downtown Philadelphia, where the picture is set.

From Seattle Times

They perched on fence posts, on the roofs of vans, in tatterdemalion back yards.

From Washington Post

He, like Putin, is losing leverage and his tatterdemalion posturing looks daily more threadbare.

From Forbes

Who, indeed, could not be spellbound, beholding that countless changing tatterdemalion caravan go by?

From Project Gutenberg

A French general of division does not give audience to every tatterdemalion who picks up a prisoner on the high road.”

From Project Gutenberg