ragamuffin

WOTD - 1 July 2006    

English

Etymology

From the Middle English Ragamuffyn.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈræɡəˌmʌfɪn/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

ragamuffin (plural ragamuffins)

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

		1597			1868 1877 1882	1906 1916
ME «	15th c.	16th c.	17th c.	18th c.	19th c.	20th c.	21st c.

• 1597 — William 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.

• 1868 — Louisa 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.”

• 1877 — Anna 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.

• 1882 — Mark 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?'

• 1906 — Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, Ch. 18

  After walking a ways, Jurgis met a little ragamuffin whom he hailed: "Hey, sonny!"

• 1916 — John 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.