Rag

n. [Gael. & Ir. rag, a rag, a wrinkle, allied to Gr. ῥάκος, a ragged or tattered garment, a rag, a wrinkle; A-S. hracod, raked, ragged, hracian, to rake, tear, Dan. rage, Sw. raka, to rake, scrape.]

1Sense 1. A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered fragment; a shred; a tatter; hence, a fragment; a bit; a patch.

“Not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty.” Fuller.

Cowls, hoods, and habits with their wearers tossed, And fluttered into rags. Milton.

2Sense 2. (pl.) Hence, mean or tattered attire; mean dress.

And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm. Dryden.

3Sense 3. A ragged fellow; a tatterdemalion; a ragamuffin; a churl. [Obs.]

The other zealous rag is the compositor. E. Jonson.

4Sense 4. (Geol.) A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture. Dana.