ragtag and bobtail

noun

: rabble

Examples of ragtag and bobtail in a Sentence

locals complained that rental housing would attract the ragtag and bobtail to their well-groomed suburb

Word History

Etymology

rag entry 1 + tag entry 1

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ragtag and bobtail was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near ragtag and bobtail

Cite this Entry

“Ragtag and bobtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragtag%20and%20bobtail. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!