ˈshake-rag
[f. shake v. + rag n.]
A ragged disreputable person; also attrib. or adj., beggarly. Cf. shack-rag, shag-rag.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. lxix. 13. 259 It is no maruell that shakerags [orig. sordidos homines] (which haue no regarde of honestie) did..raile with out shame. 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God vii. xi. 269 Pecunia,..one of the shake-rag goddesses in our forth booke. 1641 Brome Jovial Crew iii. (1652) H 4 b, Do you talk Shake-rag: Heart yond's more of 'em. I shall be Beggar-mawl'd if I stay. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxvi, ‘He was a shake-rag like fellow’, he said, ‘and..had gipsy blood in his veins’. |
Hence † shake-ragged a.
| 1560 Becon Fortress of Faithful Wks. II. 129 Who wyll be troubled..with suche a sorte of shake ragged slaues in a towne, whyche do nothynge but..fyll the towne full of beggers braules? |