1551, "coarse fabric," of Scand. origin, cf. Norw. dial. rugga "coarse coverlet," from O.N. rogg "shaggy tuft," probably related to rag and perhaps also rough. Sense evolved to "coverlet, wrap" (1591), then "mat for the floor" (1808). Meaning "toupee" is theater slang from 1940. Cut a rug "dance" is slang first attested 1942. To sweep (something) under the rug in the fig. sense is from 1961. Rug-rat "baby, child" is from 1968.
Rag\, n. [OE. ragge, probably of Scand, origin; cf. Icel. r["o]gg rough hair. Cf. Rug, n.]1. A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred; a tatter; a fragment. Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed, And fluttered into rags. --Milton. Not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty. --Fuller. 2. pl. Hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress. And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm. --Dryden. 3. A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin. The other zealous rag is the compositor. --B. Jonson. Upon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag and rag. --Spenser. 4. (Geol.) A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture. 5. (Metal Working) A ragged edge. 6. A sail, or any piece of canvas. [Nautical Slang] Our ship was a clipper with every rag set. --Lowell. Rag bolt, an iron pin with barbs on its shank to retain it in place. Rag carpet, a carpet of which the weft consists of narrow of cloth sewed together, end to end. Rag dust, fine particles of ground-up rags, used in making papier-mach['e] and wall papers. Rag wheel. (a) A chain wheel; a sprocket wheel. (b) A polishing wheel made of disks of cloth clamped together on a mandrel. Rag wool, wool obtained by tearing woolen rags into fine bits, shoddy.
Rough\, a. [Compar. Rougher; superl. Roughest.] [OE. rou?, rou, row, rugh, ruh, AS. r?h; akin to LG. rug, D. rug, D. ruig, ruw, OHG. r?h, G. rauh, rauch; cf. Lith. raukas wrinkle, rukti to wrinkle. [root] 18. Cf. Rug, n.]1. Having inequalities, small ridges, or points, on the surface; not smooth or plain; as, a rough board; a rough stone; rough cloth. Specifically: (a) Not level; having a broken surface; uneven; -- said of a piece of land, or of a road. "Rough, uneven ways." --Shak. (b) Not polished; uncut; -- said of a gem; as, a rough diamond. (c) Tossed in waves; boisterous; high; -- said of a sea or other piece of water. More unequal than the roughest sea. --T. Burnet. (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; -- said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat. "A visage rough." --Dryden. "Roughsatyrs." --Milton. 2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish. Specifically: (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as, a rough temper. A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough. --Shak. A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds. --Prior. (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough measures or actions. On the rough edge of battle. --Milton. A quicker and rougher remedy. --Clarendon. Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces. --Locke. (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough tone; rough numbers. --Pope. (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine. (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a rough day. He stayeth his rough wind. --Isa. xxvii. 8. Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. --Shak. (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught. Rough diamond, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior. Rough and ready. (a) Acting with offhand promptness and efficiency. "The rough and ready understanding." --Lowell. (b) Produced offhand. "Some rough and ready theory." --Tylor.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [ruhg] Pronunciation Key 
