rag
textile cuttings
Quick Summary
A rag is primarily defined as a waste piece of cloth. The term can also refer to clothing in poor or ragged condition, or more generally, to clothing itself, as in the phrase "the rag trade".1
Historically, the word "rag" has roots in Old English and Old Norse, relating to tufts or shagginess, with its first known use in the 14th century.1
In a more specialized context, "rag felt" is a heavy paper made from rags impregnated with asphalt, used for roofing and shingles.2
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