Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RAG, n.2, v.2 Sc. usages:
I. n. 1. A disturbance, a noisy dispute (Lth., Rnf. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1904 E.D.D.); a scolding (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
2. Phrs.: (1) geed at 'e rag, voluble in taunting and chaffing (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.); (2) to hae a rag oot o, to enjoy a joke at another's expense, to get a laugh out of (Sh., Cai., Bnff., Abd., m.Sc., Uls. 1967); (3) to tak the rag o, to make sport of, make a fool of (Sh., ne.Sc., Per., Fif., sm.Sc. 1967).(2) Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine 5:
As Geordie was by nae means averse to a joke he thocht he wad at least hae a rag oot o' the auld fallow.(3) Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 8:
Mony a begunk he got files wi eemirsome breets takin' the rag o' him.
II. v. To scold, rate, reproach severely (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif., Uls. 1967). Colloq. or dial. in Eng. Vbl.n. raggin, the act of reproaching, a scolding; a debate, contention (Lth., Rnf. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1901 Weekly Free Press (24 Aug.):
She's aye naggin', raggin' at the loon.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Rag n.2, v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rag_n2_v2>