Ragamuffin
WordNet

noun


(1)   A dirty shabbily clothed urchin
WiktionaryText

Noun



  1. A dirty, shabbily-clothed child; an urchin.
  2. (According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable): A muffin is a poor thing of a creature, a 'regular muff'; so that a ragamuffin is a sorry creature in rags.
  3. A breed of domestic cat which is an off shoot from the Ragdoll.

Usage notes

Currently this word is slang, used either for anachronistic effect or as dialogue in historical fiction.

Quotations


  • 1597William Shakespeare, 1 Hen IV v 3
    I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered: there's not three of my hundred and fifty left alive; and they are for the town's end, to beg during life.
  • 1868Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Ch. 47
    “But may I inquire how you intend to support the establishment? If all the pupils are little ragamuffins, I’m afraid your crop won’t be profitable in a worldly sense, Mr. Bhaer.”
  • 1877Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
    "They called her a little `blue' ragamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in looking very angry; "but I have given it to them; they won't insult my sister again.
  • 1882Mark Twain, The Prince and the Pauper, Ch. 12
    'Yes, he is mine—I took him, a homeless little ragamuffin, but I saw what was in him, and I said his name would be heard some day—behold him, observe him—was I right?'
  • 1906Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, Ch. 18
    After walking a ways, Jurgis met a little ragamuffin whom he hailed: "Hey, sonny!"
  • 1916John Buchan, Greenmantle, Ch. 15
    He had found out the house of Frau von Einem without much trouble, and had performed with his ragamuffins in the servants' quarters.
 
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