Fag
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 In textile inspections, a rough or coarse defect in the woven fabric. US
- 2 A chore: an arduous and tiresome task. Ireland, UK, archaic, colloquial
"We are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury, but it is so far to go—eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen says it is nine, measured nine; but I am sure it cannot be more than eight; and it is such a fag—I come back tired to death."
- 3 A homosexual man, especially (usually derogatory) an effeminate or unusual one. Canada, US, endearing, offensive, sometimes, usually, vulgar
"[1921 John Lind, The Female Impersonators (Historical Documentation of American Slang v. 1, A-G, edited by Jonathan E. Lighter (New York: Random House, 1994) page 716. Androgynes known as “fairies,” “fags,” or “brownies.”]"
- 4 finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking wordnet
- 5 A cigarette. Ireland, UK, colloquial
"He′d Phase Out Fag Industry Los Angeles (UPI) - A UCLA professor has called for the phasing out of the cigarette industry by converting tobacco acres to other crops."
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- 6 A younger student acting as a servant for senior students. Ireland, UK, colloquial, historical
"I had the character at ſchool of being the very beſt fag that ever came into it."
- 7 An annoying person. US, derogatory, offensive, vulgar
"Why did you do that, you fag?"
- 8 offensive term for a homosexual man wordnet
- 9 The worst part or end of a thing. Ireland, UK, colloquial, obsolete
"Fag, s. the worst part or end of anything."
- 1 To make exhausted, tired out. archaic, colloquial, transitive
- 2 exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress wordnet
- 3 To droop; to tire. archaic, colloquial, intransitive
"a. 1829, G. Mackenzie, Lives, quoted in 1829, "Fag", entry in The London Encyclopaedia: Or, Universal Dictionary, Volume 9, page 12, Creighton with-held his force 'till the Italian began to fag, and then brought him to the ground."
- 4 work hard wordnet
- 5 Of a younger student, to act as a servant for senior students in many British boarding schools. Ireland, UK, colloquial, historical, intransitive
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- 6 act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools wordnet
- 7 To have (a younger student) act as a servant in this way. Ireland, UK, colloquial, historical, transitive
"It is everywhere observed that a liberated slave is apt to make a merciless master, and that boys who have been cruelly fagged at school are cruel faggers."
- 8 To work hard, especially on menial chores. Ireland, UK, archaic, intransitive
"This state of things should have been to me a paradise of peace, accustomed as I was to a life of ceaseless reprimand and thankless fagging; but, in fact, my racked nerves were now in such a state that no calm could soothe, and no pleasure excite them agreeably."
Example
More examples"Sami called Farid a little fag."
Etymology
Probably from fag end (“remnant”), from Middle English fagge (“flap”).
Akin to flag (“droop, tire”). Compare Dutch vaak (“sleepiness”).
Clipping of faggot.