Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†HAGABAG, n. Also haggabag.
1. Huckaback, coarse linen (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Kcb.4 1900); “cloth made wholly of tow for the use of the kitchen” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also used attrib.Mry. 1708 in E.D. Dunbar Social Life (1865) 210:
Twenty coarse haggabag servits.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
Clean Hagabag I'll spread upon his board, And serve him with the best we can afford.Sc. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 76:
Whilst thro' lawn hagabag her breast did keek.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man III. 205:
What wad ye spulzie frae a poor auld man that hasna as muckle atween him and the grave as will pay for howking it, and buy a hagabag winding sheet.
2. “Refuse of any kind” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).
[O.Sc. 1691 in P.S.A.S. (1919) 59. Variant of Eng. huckaback, id., the origin of which is unknown.]
