Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

rags

 [rag]   Origin

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.
a.
something of very low value or in very poor condition.
b.
a newspaper or magazine regarded with contempt or distaste: Are you still subscribing to that rag?
EXPAND
6.
a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.
7.
a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.
COLLAPSE
Affordable Wipers www.affordable-wiping-rags.com Over 75 years in the rags business We will not be undersold
Ad
Idioms
8.
chew the rag. chew (def. 11).
9.
from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth: He went from rags to riches in only three years.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Rags is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English ragge < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg coarse hair < Old Norse rǫgg
Dictionary.com Unabridged

rag

2   [rag] verb, ragged, rag·ging, noun Informal.
verb (used with object)
1.
to scold.
2.
to subject to a teasing, especially in an intense or prolonged way (often followed by on): Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.
3.
British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.
noun
4.
British. an act of ragging.
Origin:
1790–1800; origin uncertain

rag

3   [rag]
verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.
to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.
Origin:
1870–75; origin uncertain

rag

4   [rag] noun, verb, ragged, rag·ging.
noun
1.
a musical composition in ragtime: a piano rag.
verb (used with object)
2.
to play (music) in ragtime.
Origin:
1895–1900; shortened form of ragtime
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To rags
Collins
World English Dictionary
rags (ræɡz)
 
—pl n
1.  torn, old, or shabby clothing
2.  cotton or linen cloth waste used in the manufacture of rag paper
3.  informal from rags to riches
 a.  from poverty to great wealth
 b.  (as modifier): a rags-to-riches tale
4.  informal glad rags best clothes; finery

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rag
"scold," 1739, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Dan. dialectal rag "grudge."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

rag definition


  1. n.
    a newspaper. : What a rag! It's only good for putting in the bottom of bird cages!
  2. n.
    ugly or badly styled clothing; an ugly garment. : I can't wear that rag!
  3. n.
    any clothing, even the best. (Always plural.) : Man, I got some new rags that will knock your eyes out!
  4. n.
    a sanitary napkin; a tampon. (For use in the menstrual cycle. Usually objectionable.) : God, I've got to change this rag!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT