Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ragged” come from?

Ragged comes from Middle English ragged, from Old Norse raggaðr, meaning shaggy or unkempt.

ragged (English): In tatters, having the texture broken; Having...

Definitions

  1. In tatters, having the texture broken; Having...

Ancestry of “ragged”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishraggedragged, raggy, raglike; shaggy, furry; rough,...
2Old Norseraggaðrtufted

Words derived from “ragged”

  • ragtime
  • raggedy
  • raggedly
  • raggedness
  • ragtimer
  • ragged robin
  • ragtimey
  • ragtimelike
  • ragtimy
  • рэгтайм
Every word from Old Norse raggaðr →