ragged

[rag-id] /ˈræg ɪd/
adjective
1.
clothed in tattered garments:
a ragged old man.
2.
torn or worn to rags; tattered:
ragged clothing.
3.
shaggy, as an animal, its coat, etc.
4.
having loose or hanging shreds or fragmentary bits:
a ragged wound.
5.
full of rough or sharp projections; jagged:
ragged stones.
6.
in a wild or neglected state:
a ragged garden.
7.
rough, imperfect, or faulty:
a ragged piece of work.
8.
harsh, as sound, the voice, etc.
9.
(of a column of type) set or printed with one side unjustified; either flush left with the right side unjustified (ragged right) or flush right with the left side unjustified (ragged left)
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English ragget. See rag1, -ed3
Related forms
raggedly, adverb
raggedness, noun
Synonyms
1. shabby, poor. 2. shredded, rent.
Antonyms
1. neat.

rag2

[rag] /ræg/
verb (used with object), ragged, ragging.
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

rag3

[rag] /ræg/
verb (used with object), ragged, ragging.
1.
to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.
Origin
1870-75; origin uncertain

rag4

[rag] /ræg/
noun
1.
a musical composition in ragtime:
a piano rag.
verb (used with object), ragged, ragging.
2.
to play (music) in ragtime.
Origin
1895-1900; shortened form of ragtime
Examples from the web for ragged
  • Its edges are tattered and torn, ragged yet recognizable.
  • Their apparel is the same ragged, long-worn motley as before described.
  • Within a minute or two, the breath comes in ragged gasps and it seems impossible to draw enough air into the lungs.
  • Remove plants in summer if they begin to look ragged.
  • Especially if he has a ragged hole where one eye should be.
  • There's a better range of movement allowed by ragged yellow robes that you'd think.
  • The ragged rank and file have replaced the previous state-security apparatus.
  • It was so beaten up and so ragged and full of holes and mud.
  • Today's game was ragged but intense for three quarters.
  • Some of the protesters sport dreadlocks, look ragged and lounge around on mattresses.
British Dictionary definitions for ragged

ragged

/ˈræɡɪd/
adjective
1.
(of clothes) worn to rags; tattered
2.
(of a person) dressed in shabby tattered clothes
3.
having a neglected or unkempt appearance: ragged weeds
4.
having a loose, rough, or uneven surface or edge; jagged
5.
uneven or irregular: a ragged beat, a ragged shout
Derived Forms
raggedly, adverb
raggedness, noun
Word Origin
C13: probably from raggerag1

rag1

/ræɡ/
noun
1.
  1. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
  2. (as modifier): a rag doll, a rag book, rag paper
2.
a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
3.
(informal) a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
4.
(informal) an item of clothing
5.
(informal) a handkerchief
6.
(Brit, slang) especially (nautical) a flag or ensign
7.
lose one's rag, to lose one's temper suddenly
See also rags
Word Origin
C14: probably back formation from ragged, from Old English raggig; related to Old Norse rögg tuft

rag2

/ræɡ/
verb (transitive) rags, ragging, ragged
1.
to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
2.
(Brit) to play rough practical jokes on
noun
3.
(Brit) a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
4.
(in British universities)
  1. a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
  2. (as modifier): rag day
Word Origin
C18: of uncertain origin

rag3

/ræɡ/
noun
1.
a piece of ragtime music
verb rags, ragging, ragged
2.
(transitive) to compose or perform in ragtime
Word Origin
C20: shortened from ragtime

rag4

/ræɡ/
noun
1.
a roofing slate that is rough on one side
Word Origin
C13: of obscure origin
Word Origin and History for ragged
adj.

"rough, shaggy," c.1300, past participle adjective as though from a verb form of rag (n.). Cf. Latin pannosus "ragged, wrinkly," from pannus "piece of cloth." But the word might reflect a broader, older meaning; perhaps from or reinforced by Old Norse raggaðr "shaggy," via Old English raggig "shaggy, bristly, rough" (which, Barnhart writes, "was almost surely developed from Scandinavian"). Of clothes, early 14c.; of persons, late 14c. To run (someone) ragged is from 1915. Related: Raggedly; raggedness.

rag

n.

scrap of cloth, early 14c., probably from Old Norse rögg "shaggy tuft," earlier raggw-, or possibly from Old Danish rag (see rug), or a back-formation from ragged, It also may represent an unrecorded Old English cognate of Old Norse rögg. Watkins traces the Old Norse word through Proto-Germanic *rawwa-, from PIE root *reue- "to smash, knock down, tear up, uproot" (see rough (adj.)).

As an insulting term for "newspaper, magazine" it dates from 1734; slang for "tampon, sanitary napkin" is attested from 1930s (on the rag "menstruating" is from 1948). Rags "personal clothing" is from 1855 (singular), American English. Rags-to-riches "rise from poverty to wealth" is attested by 1896. Rag-picker is from 1860; rag-shop from 1829.

v.

"scold," 1739, of unknown origin; perhaps related to Danish dialectal rag "grudge." Related: Ragged; ragging. Cf. bullyrag, ballarag "intimidate" (1807).

Slang definitions & phrases for ragged

ragged

Related Terms

run someone ragged


rag

noun
  1. An article of clothing: She got into her rags (1855+)
  2. A tent (1940s+ Circus)
  3. The pennant awarded to the annual winner of a league championship (1908+ Baseball)
  4. A newspaper or magazine, esp one that the speaker does not like: This so-called revolutionary organ is a horrible rag (1734+)
  5. ragtime (1897+)
  6. A piece of ragtime music (1897+)
verb
  1. To play in a ragtime style: The street bands ragged a tune by taking one note and putting two or three in its place (1897+)
  2. To tease; banter disparagingly with; needle, ride: Sometimes we'd rag one another in the rough manner that is safe only for friends (1808+)
Related Terms

the big rag, damp rag, glad rags


Idioms and Phrases with ragged

ragged

see: run one ragged

rag

In addition to the idiom beginning with
rag
also see: