rag
UK[ræɡ]US[ræɡ]
n
A piece of old, often torn, cloth, typically used for cleaning.
n
A newspaper or magazine regarded as being of low quality.
v
To criticize or scold someone severely.
v
To tease or play boisterously.
Etymology
The word 'rag' traces its origins to the Old Norse term 'rögg', which denoted shagginess or a tuft of rough material. This term was absorbed into Middle English, where it evolved to specifically refer to a worthless piece of cloth, capturing the essence of something frayed and torn. The semantic expansion to describe a low-quality publication in the 19th century metaphorically extended this idea of worthlessness from fabric to print. The verbal senses, such as to criticize harshly or to tease, further developed from the concept of treating someone or something roughly, as one might treat a worthless scrap of cloth.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It is a loanword from the Old Norse 'rögg', meaning 'shagginess' or 'tuft', and is related to the Old English 'raggig', meaning 'shaggy'.
Examples
He used an old rag to wipe the grease from the engine.
She would never be caught reading that sensationalist rag.
The coach ragged the team for their lackluster performance at halftime.