Meanings
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1
noun
strong, coarse-cut tobacco
He filled his pipe with shag and settled beside the fire.
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2
noun
a rough, matted mass or long pile of hair, fibers, or fabric
The old rug had a deep shag that trapped dust easily.
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3
noun
British, vulgar: an act of sexual intercourse
The comedy uses shag as a deliberately crude term for sex.
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4
noun
a lively swing dance characterized by quick hopping steps
They learned the shag at a weekend swing-dance workshop.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English shaggen, probably meaning 'to shake' or 'make rough.' The noun developed senses for rough or matted hair and fabric; coarse-cut tobacco was named for a similar shredded appearance. The dance and vulgar sexual senses have later, partly distinct histories.