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Tatterdemalion

//tætədəˈmeɪliɒn// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Tattered.

    "The house, on his arrival, seemed in some confusion, as if a catastrophe had happened in the family; and the servants clustered together in the hall, and were unable, or perhaps not altogether anxious, to suppress their merriment at the tatterdemalion figure of the secretary."

Adjective
  1. 1
    in deplorable condition wordnet
  2. 2
    worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A person with tattered clothing.

    "[…] we haue ordeined that through euery ward […] there be erected one sound, sufficient, and well painted whipping poste, the very sight of which wil not only scarre them, worse then the scowting face of a Serieant being seen peeping through a red lettice, frights a yong gallant, but also in time driue the whole band of Tatterdemalions from poste to piller."

  2. 2
    a dirty shabbily clothed urchin wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

First attested circa 1608. An early spelling was tatter-de-mallion, rhymed with Italian. The first part of the word is tatter; the origin of the second part is uncertain; Ebenezer Cobham Brewer suggested it might be from de maillot (“shirt”).

Etymology 2

First attested circa 1608. An early spelling was tatter-de-mallion, rhymed with Italian. The first part of the word is tatter; the origin of the second part is uncertain; Ebenezer Cobham Brewer suggested it might be from de maillot (“shirt”).

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