rag

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   play in ragtime

   rag that old tune

2. 2
   noun

   Tattered clothes (clothing).

   —What a pretty dress! —What, this old rag?

3. 3
   noun

   A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning, patching, etc.; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred or tatter.

   Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, toss'd, / And flutter'd into rags; then reliques, beads,

4. 4
   noun

   A shabby, beggarly person; synonym of ragamuffin.

   For upon the like Proclamation there, they all came in, both tag and rag

5. 5
   noun

   A sail, or any piece of canvas.

   Our ship was a clipper, with every rag set, stunsails, sky-scrapers, and all.

6. 6
   noun

   Sanitary napkins, pads, or other materials used to absorb menstrual discharge.

   "It's heaviest on the first day, which might be why it hurts so much. After that, it slows down and eventually stops, but you'll need the rags for about a week."

7. 7
   noun

   A newspaper or magazine, especially one whose journalism is considered to be of poor quality.

   "You must behave yourself, dear. Mr. Malone is a Pressman. He will have it all in his rag to-morrow, and sell an extra dozen among our neighbors."

8. 8
   noun

   A poor, low-ranking kicker.

   I have ace-four on my hand. In other words, I have ace-rag.

Etymology

From Middle English ragge, from Old English ragg (suggested by derivative raggiġ (“shaggy; bristly; ragged”)), from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft; shagginess”), from Proto-Germanic *rawwa-, probably related to *rūhaz. Cognate with Swedish ragg. Related to rug.