▪ I. shrag, n. Obs. exc. dial.
(ʃræg)
Also 5 schragge, 6–7 shragge.
[A parallel form to scrag n.2 (see scr-). Cf. shrig, shrog.]
† 1. A rag, tatter. Obs.
| ? a 1400 [see shred n. 3]. |
2. A twig; a branch lopped off; also, occas. a bush or low tree. dial.
| 1552 Huloet, Shragge of trees, sarmenta. 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. ix. 285 A kynd of breach or valey down a slope from the syde of a hill, where comonly shragges and trees do grow. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 23 Absolon is snatcht up by his long head locks, by a shrag of an oake. Ibid. 185 If they lose their hooke upon a shrag of triall and temptation. 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words, Shrags, the ends of sticks—of the birchen twigs in a broom; or of whins or furze... The clippings of live fences. |
▪ II. shrag, v.
(ʃræg)
Also 5 schragge, schregge, 6 shragge, 9 shreg.
[f. shrag n.]
trans. To lop, trim, prune.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 448/2 Schredyn, or schragge trees, sarculo. 1552 Huloet, Twygges or boughes of trees cut of, or shragged, sarmenta. Ibid., Shragge vnder so that the sunne maye come to the ground, subluco. 1647 Hexham i, To Shrag, lubben ofte snijden. 1847 Halliwell, Shreg, to lop trees. Somerset. |
Hence † ˈshragger, a trimmer or pruner of trees; ˈshragging vbl. n., that which is lopped off (also attrib.).
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 449/1 Schreggare, sarculator. Ibid., Schreggynge, idem quod schredynge [putamen]. c 1460 Ibid. (Winch. MS.) 401 Schraggyng, idem quod schreggyng. 1900 Oxf. Times 1 Dec. 2/3, 1,500 shragging fagots. |