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 /

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

²

/ 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 )

      a rag book

      a rag doll

      rag paper

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
   lose one's rag to lose one's temper suddenly

rag

³

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. a roofing slate that is rough on one side

rag

⁴

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. a piece of ragtime music

verb

1. tr to compose or perform in ragtime

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

C18: of uncertain origin

Origin of rag²

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

Origin of rag³

C13: of obscure origin

Origin of rag⁴

C20: shortened from ragtime

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

To refresh them, spray some bike degreaser on the tape or grips and wipe everything down thoroughly with a clean sponge or rag.

From Outside Online

At the end, they left with four bottles of cooking oil and a cleaning rag.

From Time

The rags to riches stories that define many players’ entry to elite sport can all too frequently play out in reverse when they leave it.

From Digiday

Use a rag lightly dampened with degreaser followed by a rag dampened with rubbing alcohol to strip any residue left on the surface.

From Outside Online

My buff, for example, worked as a neck warmer, face mask, headband and rag — for wiping grease or sunscreen off my hands.

From Washington Post

Then Ziegler tosses the buff LaBeouf around like a rag doll.

From The Daily Beast

Plus the notion of the poor little guy surrounded by a rag-tag pack of true believers is an American favorite.

From The Daily Beast

He stuck the barrel of the gun out his window and started wiping it down with a rag.

From The Daily Beast

In 1992, she was spotted by Sassy magazine, and became a model/intern for the fashion rag.

From The Daily Beast

You should be so proud of yourself working for an illegitimate rag like the Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

The early pump had rag balls, in keeping with the mechanical ignorance of the time, and suitable to man's power.

From Project Gutenberg

The large size of the rag-wheel gave the rapidly revolving chain and balls a great speed.

From Project Gutenberg

Strain the mixture through a linen rag several times; adding, at the last operation, two ounces of bear's grease.

From Project Gutenberg

Away off the bed, over the bright rag carpet, and past the red fire, safely and swiftly they trotted.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a common practice in erecting buildings with a facing of Kentish rag rubble to back up the stonework with bricks.

From Project Gutenberg