drag English · revision 6193

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=gem-pro *draganą}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dræɡ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English draggen, probably [[bor|non|draga|t=to draw, pull]], or a dialect variant of Old English [[m|ang|dragan|t=to draw]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) both from [[gem-pro|*draganą]],^(Etymonline) perhaps from PIE [[ine-pro|*dʰregʰ-|t=to draw, drag on the ground]].^(Etymonline) The noun is partly from the verb and partly from [[gml|dragge|t=grapnel]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) or from Old English [[m|ang|drǣge|t=dragnet]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Word Origins groups it with [[draw]], [[draught]], [[dray]] and possibly [[drudge]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a dragnet, 1300–01 in Barnhart, about 1300 in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a heavy harrow 1339–40.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to draw a grapnel along the bottom in search of something, is from the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and to draw or pull something heavy from about 1440 in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To lag behind is from 1494,^(OED 1989) and to drag in a subject figuratively from 1596.^(OED 1989) A drag as anything that retards progress is from 1708,^(Etymonline) a device to slow a wheel from 1795,^(Etymonline) and a boring or annoying person or thing from 1813, perhaps from the idea of something that must be dragged along.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A slang sense of a wagon or carriage is from 1755,^(Etymonline) and by 1851 it was transferred to a street, as in ''the main drag''.^(Etymonline) Women's clothing worn by a man is by 1870, perhaps theatre slang from the feel of long skirts trailing on the floor,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and the [[drag queen]] is from 1941.^(Etymonline) [[drag racing|alt=Drag racing]] (1947) is said to be from thieves' slang drag, a car (1935).^(Etymonline) To pull on a cigarette is colloquial from 1919,^(OED 1989) and to take someone somewhere reluctantly from 1924.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – a dragnet.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1440 – to pull, haul.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1494 – to lag behind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1708 – something that slows progress.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1813 – a bore.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1870 – women's clothes worn by a man.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1919 – to pull on a cigarette.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1941 – drag queen.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pull along with effort; to [[haul]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To trail or cause to trail along the ground.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To search the bottom of a river or lake with a [[grapnel]] or net.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To pass slowly and tediously: ''the hours dragged''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(computing)'' To move an item across a screen by holding down the mouse button.^(Collins 2023)

+ # To draw on a cigarette.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that slows progress; the force opposing motion through air or water.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A boring or tiresome person or thing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Women's clothing worn by a man.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pull on a cigarette.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[draggingly]]

+ * [[draggy]]

+ * [[draghound]]

+ * [[draglift]]

+ * [[dragrope]]

+ * [[dragsville]]

+ * [[drag-and-drop]]

+ * [[draggle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dragnet]]

+ * [[draw]]

+ * [[draught]]

+ * [[dray]]

+ * [[drudge]]

+ * [[drag queen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}