tatterdemalion

[ tat-er-di-meyl-yuhn, -mal- ]

noun

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

adjective

1. ragged; unkempt or dilapidated.

tatterdemalion

/ ˌtætədɪˈmeɪljən; -ˈmæl- /

noun

1. rare.
   1. a person dressed in ragged clothes
   2. ( as modifier )

      a tatterdemalion dress

Word History and Origins

Origin of tatterdemalion¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tatterdemalion¹

C17: from tatter + -demalion, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Coronado's first bullet knocked a villainous-looking tatterdemalion clean into the happy hunting grounds.

From Project Gutenberg

Your father was a tatterdemalion like yourself, and never saw two jars of gold even in his dreams.

From Project Gutenberg

Wal, she didnt look quite sech a tatterdemalion, granted Aunt Alvirah.

From Project Gutenberg

“One that cannot be lightly denied,” said the Tatterdemalion.

From Project Gutenberg

Carelessly Ralph Dacre sauntered forth again into the moonlight and confronted the tatterdemalion figure of his visitor.

From Project Gutenberg