rag1
/
rag/
n.
- a piece of old cloth, especially one torn from a larger piece.
▸
(rags)
old or tattered clothes.
-
(rags)
the remnants of something.
- informal a low-quality newspaper.
v.
give a decorative effect to by applying paint with a rag.
Phrase
- on the rag
informal, chiefly N. Amer. menstruating. - lose one's rag
Brit. informal lose one's temper.
Etymology
ME: prob. a back-form. from ragged or raggy.
rag3
/
rag/
n.
- a large coarse roofing slate.
-
(also ragstone)
Brit. a hard coarse sedimentary rock that can be broken into thick slabs.
Etymology
ME: of unknown origin; later assoc. with rag1.
rag4
/
rag/
n.
a ragtime composition or tune.
Etymology
C19: perh. from ragged; cf. ragtime.