subs. (old colloquial).—1. A buffoon, droll, practical joker. [Probably WAG-HALTER (q.v.) = a ROGUE (q.v.): cf. ‘mad wag,’ ‘mad wag-halter,’ etc.]. Also as a half-jocular, half-affectionate slur. As adj. = ‘Arch, Gamesome, Pleasant’ (B. E.). As verb (or WAGGLE) = generic for (1) playful or sportive, and (2) mocking, scornful, or derisive motion. Hence WAGGERY, WAGGISHNESS, WAGGISH, etc.
1550. UDALL, Roister Doister [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 492].
1592. G. HARVEY, Foure Letters, Preface. But mildely and calmely shew how discredite reboundeth upon the autors, as dust flyeth back into the WAGS eyes, that will nedes be puffing it up.
1600. SHAKESPEARE, Much Ado about Nothing, ii. 1. 119.
| Urs. I know you by the WAGGLING of your head. | |
| Ibid. (1601), Henry VIII., v. 3. | |
| Now let me see the proudest | |
| He, that dares most, but WAG his finger at thee. |
1600. JONSON, Cynthia’s Revels, ii. 1. A wanton WAGGING of your head. Ibid (1609), Epicœne, or the Silent Woman, v. 1. Let’s wanton it a little and talk WAGGISHLY.
1607. HEYWOOD, The Fair Maid of the Exchange [PEARSON, Works, II. 66].
| And with the Nymphes that haunt the silver streames, | |
| Learne to entice the affable young WAGGE. |
1607. DEKKER, Northward Hoe, iii. 2. WAGGE … wilt be secret?
1611. Bible, Matthew xxvii. 39. And they that passed by reviled him, WAGGING their heads.
1635. QUARLES, Emblems, ii. 12.
| Let ditch-bred wealth henceforth forget to WAG | |
| Her base, though golden, tail. |
d. 1654. SELDEN, Table Talk, 97. He did by the Parliament as an Ape when he hath done some WAGGERY.
1655. The Comical History of Francion, iv. 22. He said to the three buffles who stood with their hats in their hands, ‘Tell me, you WAGGS, is not my page a gallant boy?’
1677. WYCHERLEY, The Plain Dealer, i. 1. 1st Sail. Jack, thou thinkest thyself in the forecastle, thou’rt so WAGGISH.
1710. STEELE, The Tatler, No. 184, 13 June. A WAG is the last order even of pretenders to wit and good humour.
1728. VANBRUGH, A Journey to London, iii. 1. Sir Fran. A prodigious civil gentleman, uncle; and yet as bold as Alexander upon occasion. Unc. Rich. Upon a lady’s occasion. Sir Fran. Ha, ha, you are a WAG, uncle!
1820. IRVING, The Sketch-Book, 434, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ It left Brom no alternative but to draw upon the funds of rustic WAGGERY in his disposition.
1828. C. M. WESTMACOTT, The English Spy, i. 189.
| The man upon that half-starved nag | |
| Is an Ex-S——ff, a strange WAG, | |
| Half flash and half a clown. |
1848. THACKERAY, The Book of Snobs, xviii. She … WAGGLES her little hand before her face, as if to blow you a kiss, as the phrase is.
1851. LONGFELLOW, The Golden Legend, vi.
| Let us see what the learned WAG maintains | |
| With such a prodigal waste of brains. |
2. (school).—THE WAG = truancy. As verb (or TO PLAY, or HOP, THE WAG) = to be truant: also CHARLEY-WAG (q.v.).
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. 207. They often persuaded me to HOP THE WAG.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 59. Readier TO PLAY THE ‘CHARLEY WAG’ than to be the first in any prominent position in his class or form.
1901. W. S. WALKER, In the Blood, 13. They had WAGGED it from school, as they termed it, which was an unvarying practice of theirs, and meant truancy in all its forms.
Verb (old).—1. See subs. supra.
2. (colloquial).—To stir, move, make way, progress.
1546. HEYWOOD, Proverbs. Let the world WAGGE and take mine ease in mine inne.
1600. SHAKESPEARE, As You Like It, ii. 7. Thus may we see, quoth he, how the world WAGS.
3. (colloquial).—To go, be off, depart, begone.
1589. PUTTENHAM, Art of English Poesie, 194. It is said by maner of a prouerbial speach that he who findes himselfe well should not WAGGE.
1684. BUNYAN, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. They made a pretty good shift to WAG ALONG.
d. 1800. Cowper, The Yearly Distress. Come neighbours, we must WAG.
See AFRAID.
