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wag
wag1 / wag/ • v. (wagged , wag·ging ) (with reference to an animal's tail) move or cause to move rapidly to and fro: [intr.] his tail began to wag | [tr.] the dog went out, wagging its tail. ∎ [tr.] move (an upward-pointing finger) from side to side to signify a warning or reprimand: she wagged a finger at Elinor. ∎ [intr.] (used of a tongue, jaw, or chin, as representing a person) talk, esp. in order to gossip or spread rumors: this is a small island, and tongues are beginning to wag. • n. a single rapid movement from side to side: a chirpy wag of the head. PHRASES: how the world wags dated how affairs are going or being conducted.the tail wags the dogsee tail1 . wag2 • n. dated a person who makes facetious jokes. |
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"wag." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "wag." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-wag005.html "wag." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-wag005.html |
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wag
wag1 tr. †stir, move XIII; sway from side to side XIV; intr. †brandish, wave XIII; move to and fro XIV. ME. waggen, iterative formation on OE. wagian totter, sway), ME. waʒe, waw(e) = MLG., MDu. wagen, OHG. wagōn, ON. vaga.
So waggle XV; see -LE3 and cf. (M)LG., Du. waggelen stagger, totter, which may be the immed. source. |
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T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wag.html T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wag.html |
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wag
wag2 mischievous boy, youth, chap; habitual joker. XVI. prob. shortening of †waghalter (vars. †wagstring, †wagwith) one who is likely to swing in the hangman's noose, gallows-bird XVI; see prec., HALTER.
Hence waggery, waggish XVI. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wag1.html T. F. HOAD. "wag." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wag1.html |
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WAG
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DARREL INCE. "WAG." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DARREL INCE. "WAG." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-WAG.html DARREL INCE. "WAG." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-WAG.html |
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wag
wag
•bag, blag, brag, Bragg, crag, dag, drag, fag, flag, gag, hag, jag, lag, mag, nag, quag, rag, sag, scrag, shag, slag, snag, sprag, stag, swag, tag, wag, zag
•ragbag • saddlebag
•handbag, sandbag
•gasbag • ratbag • air bag • mailbag
•fleabag, tea bag
•beanbag • windbag • kitbag • dillybag
•carpet bag • washbag • growbag
•nosebag
•bumbag, scumbag
•punchbag • Stalag • jetlag • greylag
•gulag • dishrag • bullyrag • Morag
•ragtag • dog tag • Sontag • wigwag
•chinwag
•scallywag (US scallawag) • zigzag
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Cite this article
"wag." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "wag." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-wag.html "wag." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-wag.html |
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WAG
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "WAG." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "WAG." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-WAG.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "WAG." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-WAG.html |
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