rag \rag\, n. oe. ragge, probably of scand, origin; cf. icel.
   r"ogg a tuft, shagginess, sw. ragg rough hair. cf. rug,
   n.
   1. a piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a
      shred; a tatter; a fragment.
      1913 webster

            cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers,
            tossed,
            and fluttered into rags.              --milton.
      1913 webster

            not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover
            the shame of their cruelty.           --fuller.
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   2. pl. hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress.
      1913 webster

            and virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   3. a shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
      1913 webster

            the other zealous rag is the compositor. --b.
                                                  jonson.
      1913 webster

            upon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag
            and rag.                              --spenser.
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   4. geol. a coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in
      texture.
      1913 webster

   5. metal working a ragged edge.
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   6. a sail, or any piece of canvas. nautical slang
      1913 webster

            our ship was a clipper with every rag set. --lowell.
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   rag bolt, an iron pin with barbs on its shank to retain it
      in place.

   rag carpet, a carpet of which the weft consists of narrow
      strips of cloth sewed together, end to end.

   rag dust, fine particles of ground-up rags, used in making
      papier-mach'e and wall papers.

   rag wheel.
      a a chain wheel; a sprocket wheel.
      b a polishing wheel made of disks of cloth clamped
          together on a mandrel.

   rag wool, wool obtained by tearing woolen rags into fine
      bits, shoddy.
      1913 webster
see also:
rug rag bolt rag carpet rag dust rag wheel rag wool