rag

Where does the word "rag" come from? It comes from Old Norse rǫgg, passing through Middle English before entering English (1700s).

Rag’s story begins in Old Norse: rǫgg meant “tuft, shagginess.” Referred to a tuft or shaggy strip, as of fur or wool. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as ragge. Probably back-formed from 'ragged', which is recorded earlier. It reached English by 1700s as rag. Slang 'rag' for a low-quality newspaper followed in the 1700s, from newsprint being made of rag-paper. Today, rag means a piece of old cloth; a disparaged newspaper.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval rǫgg "tuft, shagginess", referred to a tuft or shaggy strip, as of fur or wool.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s ragge "a scrap of cloth", probably back-formed from 'ragged', which is recorded earlier.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s rag "a piece of old cloth", slang 'rag' for a low-quality newspaper followed in the 1700s, from newsprint being made of rag-paper.