rag

¹

[ rag ]

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.

rag

²

[ rag ]

verb (used without object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

1. to subject a person to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way (usually followed by on ):

   Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.

2. to criticize a person or thing (usually followed by on ): I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.

   He rags and whines to me instead of fixing the problem.

   I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.

verb (used with object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

1. to subject to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way:

   He was ragged at school for not joining a sports team.

2. to criticize.
3. British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.

noun

1. British. an act of ragging; a cruel or crude practical joke.

rag

³

[ rag ]

verb (used with object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

1. to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.

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.

rag

¹

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. a roofing slate that is rough on one side

rag

²

/ ræɡ /

verb

1. to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
2. to play rough practical jokes on

noun

1. 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

rag

³

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. a piece of ragtime music

verb

1. tr to compose or perform in ragtime

rag

⁴

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. 1. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
   2. ( as modifier )

      rag paper

      a rag book

      a rag doll

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. slang.
   nautical a flag or ensign
7. lose one's rag
   to lose one's temper suddenly

Word History and Origins

Origin of rag¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English ragge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg “coarse hair,” from Old Norse rǫgg

Origin of rag²

First recorded in 1735–40; origin uncertain

Origin of rag³

First recorded in 1870–75; origin uncertain

Origin of rag⁴

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortened form of ragtime

Word History and Origins

Origin of rag¹

C13: of obscure origin

Origin of rag²

C18: of uncertain origin

Origin of rag³

C20: shortened from ragtime

Origin of rag⁴

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth:

   He went from rags to riches in only three years.

2. chew the rag. chew ( def 11 ).

More idioms and phrases containing rag

In addition to the idiom beginning with rag , also see chew the fat (rag) ; from rags to riches ; glad rags ; run ragged .

Example Sentences

But one of them has run a ragged, undisciplined and often listless campaign, increasingly focused on blatantly false claims and hateful invective, and without the slightest pretense of “moderation” or unifying rhetoric.

From Salon

Restaurants are closing and car break-ins are so common that people complain that thieves sometimes steal worthless items like old rags.

From Los Angeles Times

USA Today, Gannet’s flagship rag, followed suit a few days later.

From Salon

McColly had returned to his office in a historic cabin, which now smelled like wet rags and old cigarettes.

From Los Angeles Times

They left and returned to the hillside in a slow ragged line.

From Los Angeles Times