raggie Mil.
(ˈrægɪ)
Also raggy.
[f. rag n.1 + -ie.]
† 1. A mess jacket. Obs.
| 1843 F. J. Bellew Mem. Griffin I. ix. 126 As for myself, in my scarlet raggie, brimstone facings,..and regulation sword, in my own opinion, I looked quite the god of war. 1903 N. & Q. 26 Dec. 512/2 In India, in the early part of last century,..the scarlet ‘shell’ jacket, or mess jacket—almost the only uniform then worn in that country—was invariably called a ‘raggie’, and this not jocularly or as slang, but seriously and as a matter of course. |
2. Naval slang. (See quot. 1912.)
| 1912 ‘Aurora’ Jock Scott xiv. 170 A ‘raggy’ is a friend whom you know so intimately that you feel you could with confidence keep your brass-rags in the same bag as his. 1914 ‘Bartimeus’ Naval Occasions xiv. 111 ‘If I don't get no letter this mail—so 'elp me I stops me 'arf pay,’ he confided grimly to a ‘Raggie’. 1916 ‘Taffrail’ Carry On! 27 Men who are friendly with each other are ‘raggies’, because they have the free run of each others' polishing paste and rags; but if their friendship terminates they are said to have ‘parted brass-rags’. 1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 143 Raggie, a very close friend. |