c.1310, probably from O.N.
rogg "shaggy tuft," earlier
raggw-, or possibly from O.Dan.
rag (see
rug), or a back-formation from
ragged (c.1300), which is from O.N.
raggaðr "shaggy," via O.E.
raggig "rag-like." It also may represent an unrecorded O.E. cognate of O.N.
rogg. As an insulting term for "newspaper, magazine" it dates from 1734; slang for "tampon, sanitary napkin" is attested from 1930s.
Rags "personal clothing" is from 1855, Amer.Eng.
Rags-to-riches "rise from poverty to wealth" is attested from 1947.
Ragtop "convertible car" is from 1955.
Raghead, insulting term for "South Asian or Middle Eastern person," first attested 1921.