What does ragman mean?
Ragman is an old noun for a contemptible person, especially a dishonest or unscrupulous one. It was used as a blunt, strongly derogatory label, comparable in tone to terms such as scoundrel, rascal, and villain, but it could imply deliberate deception or a general moral unworthiness. In contemporary English, ragman is chiefly encountered in older books, plays, and historical dialogue rather than in everyday conversation. Its dated quality does not make its meaning obscure: a person described as a ragman was being presented as unworthy of trust and deserving of contempt. The word illustrates how vocabulary for dishonesty has shifted over time. Although once used seriously to condemn someone, it now often carries an archaic or theatrical flavour, which may make it useful in historical writing and literary dialogue.
nounA contemptible or dishonest person; a scoundrel. The word is now chiefly found in older literature, where it carries a strongly derogatory tone.
- A contemptible or dishonest person; a scoundrel.
"The crowd suspected that the stranger was a ragman who would cheat them at the first opportunity."
"He warned the villagers that the pedlar was a ragman and would not give them fair value."
"In the old play, the villain is depicted as a boastful ragman with no concern for anyone but himself."
The irregular plural is formed by changing man to men, though the plural is rare because the word is now largely archaic or literary.
"The novel portrays a group of ragmen who prey on travellers."
A sharp old label for a scoundrel, ragman now sounds more theatrical than everyday.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ragman come from?
The word is formed from rag and man, but the precise development of its meaning is uncertain. It appears in Middle English and later English use with the sense of a scoundrel or contemptible person. The form is now largely confined to archaic and literary contexts.
How ragman is actually used
The word is dated and chiefly literary or archaic in modern English. It is more insulting than merely negative, implying moral or financial dishonesty as well as contemptibility.