hag

¹

[ hag ]

noun

1. an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one.

   Synonyms: shrew, virago, harridan, harpy

2. a witch or sorceress.
3. a hagfish.

hag

²

[ hag, hahg ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. bog; quagmire.
2. a firm spot or island of firm ground in a bog or marsh.

Hag.

³

abbreviation for

, Bible.

1. Haggai.

hag

¹

/ hɑːɡ; hæɡ /

noun

1. a firm spot in a bog
2. a soft place in a moor

hag

²

/ hæɡ /

noun

1. an unpleasant or ugly old woman
2. a witch
3. short for hagfish
4. obsolete.
   a female demon

Hag.

³

abbreviation for

1. Haggai

Derived Forms

• ˈhaggishly, adverb
• ˈhaggish, adjective
• ˈhagˌlike, adjective
• ˈhaggishness, noun

Other Words From

• haggish haglike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hag¹

1175–1225; Middle English hagge, Old English *hægge, akin to hægtesse witch, hagorūn spell, German Hexe witch

Origin of hag²

1250–1300; Middle English: chasm < Old Norse hǫgg a cut, ravine

Word History and Origins

Origin of hag¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse högg gap; see hew

Origin of hag²

Old English hægtesse witch; related to Old High German hagazussa, Middle Dutch haghetisse

Example Sentences

How did a pageant seeking a “role model to young and old alike” allow in such an old hag?!

From The Daily Beast

She blogs about science, religion, feminism, and sex at her blog Blag Hag.

From The Daily Beast

The hag sprang to her feet, her sullen face ghastly in the dim light, her eyes lurid with hate.

From Project Gutenberg

A wonderful merry pair, they seemed; and when Francie had crawled out of the hag, he had a great deal to consider in his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

After walking for some time he found himself in a great forest, where he saw a wretched old hag asleep under a tree.

From Project Gutenberg

The hag, again opening her shears, was already approaching the web anew, when she saw the shadow of Carlino.

From Project Gutenberg

In the North of England the elves seem to have been known as hags, for fairy rings are there known as hag tracks.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What does hag mean?

Historically, a hag is an old, ugly woman with evil powers. Much like witches, crones, and banshees, hag has become a sexist insult degrading women.

Content warning: this article contains references to sexist and homophobic language.

Where does hag come from?

Hags as evil, old women are an ancient archetype, appearing in myth and literature from the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga to the Greek Furies. They are often described as witch-like figures who live in wild places like swamps and forests.

The word hag is recorded in the 13th century and comes from a Germanic root. By the 1300s, hag was already being used to dismiss women considered ugly, repulsive, and vicious.

In the 1960s, fag hag emerged. Fag hags are straight women who socialize with gay men. While some women and gay people embrace the term (such as comedian Margaret Cho), fag hag is considered doubly offensive, featuring a homophobic slur and sexist insult.

Women in powerful positions, such as U.S. Democratic politicians Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, are often denigrated as hags.

How is hag used in real life?

Hags still make appearances in our modern mythologies. The Gullah people of the coastal Carolinas, for instance, tell stories of the boo–hag, who sheds her skin at night to sneak into houses and feast on sleepers’ energy.

The boo hag #ghost #charleston #gullah #ThingsINeverWantToSee pic.twitter.com/yzwmP5L9u3

— Adam Giuseppe Moore (@TheAdamJMoore) August 15, 2018

In Welsh folklore, the Gwrach-y-Rhibyn (“Hag of the Mist” in English) is a frightening spirit who appears in the form of a hideously ugly woman. #FolkloreThursday pic.twitter.com/hYnyj1s900

— Laura Wattie (@LyraFay) August 23, 2018

Hags also show up in the Harry Potter universe, figured as semi-magical, non-human beings that muggles mistake for witches. Hollywood loves hags, too, with cinematic hags appearing in Drag Me To Hell (2009), Hag (2014,) and The Hag (2018.)

Unfortunately, hag is also still used as a sexist insult. Hillary Clinton was derided as an old hag during her 2016 presidential run by supporters of Donald Trump. In 2017, Republican politician Roger Stanton caused outrage when he called the Women’s March a “hag and ho’ show” on social media.

Unless you’re discussing myth, magic, or Macbeth, avoid calling a woman a hag. It implies women are only valuable if they are young, beautiful, and submissive.

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.