or shake-bag, or rag, subs. phr. (old).—1. ‘A poor shabby fellow’ (B. E.); ‘a man of no spirit: a term borrowed from the cock-pit’ (GROSE): originally as in quot. 1611. Also as adj. = mean; beggarly. See RAG.
1588. MARLOWE, The Jew of Malta, Act IV. Bara. Was ever Jew tormented as I am? To have a SHAG-RAG knave to come, &c.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Guerluset, somewhat like our SHAG RAG, a byword for a beggerlie souldier.
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, Act II. 281 (Plays, 1874). If I thought ’twould ever come to that, I’d hire some SHAG-RAG or other for half a zequine to cut’s throat.
1612. CHAPMAN, The Widow’s Tears, v. 1, 338 (Plays, 1874). Lycus. To send a man abroad under guard of one of your silliest SHACK-RAGS; that he may beat the knave, and run away.
1615. Exchange Ware at the Second Hand [HALLIWELL]. A scurvie SHAGRAGGE gentleman.
1616. SCOT, Certaine Pieces of this Age.
| For plainnesse is despisde, and honestie | |
| Is fellow SHAKERAG with simplicitie. |
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Urania, 7. The SHAK-RAG-shag-haird crue.
1641. R. BROME, A Joviall Crew, iii. Ol. Do you talk SHAG-RAG: Heart yond’s more of ’em. I shall be beggar-mawl’d if I stay.
1665. R. HEAD, The English Rogue, I. ix., 71 (1874). From what Dunghil didst thou pick up this SHAKERAG, this Squire of the body?
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, i. 269. He was a SHAKE-RAG like fellow.
2. (cockers’: also colloquial).—A fighting-cock; and so, by implication, a ‘hen of the GAME’ (q.v.).
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, iv. 11. Wit. Come Knight…. Will you go to a cock-match? Sir Wil. With a wench, Tony? Is she a SHAKE-BAG, sirrah?
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker [1900], i. 68. ‘I bless God … that Mrs. Tabitha Bramble did not take the field to-day!’ I would pit her … against the best SHAKEBAG of the whole main.
