dag

¹

[ dag ]

noun

1. one of a series of decorative scallops or foliations along the edge of a garment, cloth, etc.
2. Scot. daglock.

verb (used with object)

, dagged, dag·ging.

1. to edge (a garment, cloth, etc.) with decorative scallops or the like.

dag

²

[ dag ]

noun

, Australian and New Zealand Informal.

1. an amusing, unusual person.

dag

³

abbreviation for

1. dekagram; dekagrams.

Dag

⁴

[ dahg, dag ]

noun

1. a male given name.

dag

¹

/ dæɡ /

noun

1. short for daglock
2. rattle one's dags informal.
   to hurry up

verb

1. to cut the daglock away from (a sheep)

dag

²

/ dæɡ /

noun

1. a character; eccentric
2. a person who is untidily dressed
3. a person with a good sense of humour

Derived Forms

• ˈdagger, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dag¹

1350–1400; Middle English dagge < ?; compare Old French dague dagger

Origin of dag²

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of dag¹

C18: of obscure origin

Origin of dag²

back formation from daggy

Example Sentences

The worker stabbed the loamy soil with a hoe dag, dropped in a delicate sequoia seedling and tamped the dirt tight around it.

From Los Angeles Times

Skirt after skirt failed, and Big Ma let loose another “dag nabbit.”

From Literature

Williams, the team’s first-round pick in 2017, started to chuckle as he imitated Rivers when he’s heated — rearranging the letters from expletives to end up with phrases such as “dag gummit!”

From Los Angeles Times

It wanted to find a way of preventing so-called dags — deposits composed of dirt, hair and dung — from getting caked on cattle hides.

From Seattle Times

I’m ‘a get a scholarship to King’s College/ I prob’ly shouldn’t brag, but dag/ I amaze and astonish.”

From Washington Post