In another thread, I suggested that Elizabeth and Jackie were "ragging" on Bingley. This may have been too strong a word, depending upon what one means by it. The etymology is apparently unknown. Hereabouts, among my confreres, to rag has the sense of to chide, to pick on, to yell at, to express grievance to another. It might have a more potent meaning elsewhere.
when said among friends I think it's fine. definitely a stronger meaning if it's outside the in group.
Yep, fits my understanding pretty closely - it carries overtones of boistrous physical teasing going beyond mere words though. etymonline suggests perhaps related to Dan. dialectal rag "grudge."
From Season 2 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer":
BUFFY: So, what did you and Principal Snyder talk about anyway?
JOYCE: Principal Snyder said you were a troublemaker. And I could care less. I have a daughter who can take care of herself. Who's brave and resourceful and thinks of others in a crisis. No matter who you hang out with or what dumb teenage stuff you think you need to do, I'm gonna sleep better knowing all that.
BUFFY: About how long till this wears off and you start ragging on me again?
JOYCE: Oh, at least a week and a half.
BUFFY: Very cool!
Interesting and puzzling. The very first definition of 'rag' in the One-Look side bar is:
noun: a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)
That's what I've always understood it to mean; the definition that y'all seem to know comes in as the 10th given in One-Look:
verb: censure severely or angrily
I'm confused 'cos I thought One-Look originated in the US of A. Perhaps there is some unexplained order in the way they cite the definitions?
Huh. This is one of those words as to which I'd always subconsciously ascribed an etymology related to the phrase "on the rag". It is edifying to learn that the origin of the term is not known.
For many years, in my home town, the annual concert put on by the local university's students was known as "The Rag" - in the sense, I guess of practical joking.
yeah, and the rag mag and rag week etc... hence my ealier description of my understanding as boistrous physical teasing - certainly not censure in any sense.
For many years, in my home town, the annual concert put on by the local university's students was known as "The Rag" - in the sense, I guess of practical joking.
If it has been enough years it might refer to Rag-time. Or is that derived from the boisterous part of the definithon as well.
I think y'all are con-fusing a lot of different senses of (or perhaps different *words spelled) "rag". perhaps this is also why this particular sense is given as "origin unknown".
M-W differentiates between (i.e., has separate entries for) 1) rag : to rail at, scold; torment, tease, and 2) [chiefly Brit.] rag : an outburst of boisterous fun; prank.
as to the OneLook sidebar def'ns, remember that what gets listed there is only stuff that can be freely quoted 'cuz it's in the public domain; e.g., the 1913 or 18?? Webster's or perhaps something even less further removed from the mother-land.
and ragtime almost certainly connotes ragged rhythm.