What does shag mean?
Shag has several related meanings, most commonly referring to hair that is thick, rough, matted, or tangled. The word can also describe a coarse fabric with a long pile, as in a shag carpet, or a hairstyle with loose, uneven layers. As a verb, shag means to pull or move something with a series of sharp jerks, although this usage is less common than the noun. In vulgar slang, both noun and verb can refer to sexual intercourse, a meaning that is informal and potentially offensive. The adjective shag means shaggy, rough, or long-haired and is chiefly literary. In British English, shag also names a kind of coarse, dark tobacco made from shredded leaves. Although some of these senses now sound old-fashioned, shag remains a useful word for describing textures and appearances that are rough, dense, or deliberately untidy.
A mass of matted or rough hair; a coarse, long-piled fabric; a loose, uneven hairstyle; coarse tobacco; or, in vulgar slang, an act of sexual intercourse.
"The chair was covered in a thick shag of grey fabric."
The sexual-intercourse sense is vulgar. The tobacco sense is especially associated with British English.
To pull or move something with sharp jerks, or, in vulgar slang, to have sexual intercourse.
"The rope shagged loose as the current pulled at it."
The sexual-intercourse sense is vulgar and informal.
Shaggy or rough-haired.
"The actor appeared in a shaggy beard and woollen coat."
Chiefly literary, poetic, or humorous.
Usually plural when referring to separate masses of hair or to instances of the vulgar slang meaning.
"The dog shook off clumps of shags of wet fur."
A shag began as a word for tangled hair before it grew to describe carpets, hairstyles, and, in vulgar slang, sex.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shag come from?
The word appears in English by the early 16th century, when it referred to rough, matted hair or a coarse fibrous material. Its precise origin is uncertain, although it is related in form to shaggy, and both words reflect an older word family concerned with rough or projecting fibres. Later uses developed for long-piled fabrics, hairstyles, and coarse tobacco. The slang sense for sexual intercourse entered modern usage during the 20th century and is now the best-known sense in some informal American English contexts.
Related word forms
How shag is actually used
The sense for sexual intercourse is vulgar and should be used only in informal contexts where such language is acceptable. The adjective sense is literary or poetic. In British English, shag is also the name of a coarse tobacco, and in this sense it is usually uncountable.
Easily confused with shag
Shag can refer to matted or coarse hair or a thick pile of fabric, whereas shaggy describes hair or fabric that is long, loose, and uneven rather than necessarily matted.
Shag as a verb can mean to pull or move with sharp jerks, while shake means to move rapidly back and forth or vibrate.