Ragamuffin
noun1
A domestic cat of a particular heavy, muscular, short-necked breed.
ragamuffin
nounalso spelled Ragamuffin/ˈɹæɡəˌmʌfɪn/
Etymology From the Middle English Ragamuffyn. Of uncertain origin, 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.
1
A dirty, shabbily-clothed child; an urchin.
- I haue led my rag of Muffins where they are pepper'd: there's not three of my 150 left aliue; and they for the Townes end, to beg during life.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 71:
- “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, Mrs. Bhaer.”1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, “Harvest Time”, in Little Women: […], 2nd part, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 348:
4 more examples
- "They called her a little blue raggamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in, looking very angry; "but I have given it to them, they won't insult my sister again.[…]"[1877], Anna Sewell, “The Election”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part III, page 206:
- '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?'1882, Mark Twain, chapter 12, in The Prince and the Pauper:
- After walking a ways, Jurgis met a little ragamuffin whom he hailed: "Hey, sonny!"1905 April–October, Upton Sinclair, chapter XVIII, in The Jungle, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 26 February 1906, →OCLC:
- He had found out the house of Frau von Einem without much trouble, and had performed with his ragamuffins in the servants' quarters.1916, John Buchan, chapter 15, in Greenmantle:
2
Slang A hooligan or troublemaker.
3
Alternative letter-case form of Ragamuffin (“breed of domestic cat”).
- Derived terms
- ragamuffinism, ragamuffinly, rajamuffin
- Related terms
- in rags