From Middle English waggen, probably from Old English wagian (“to wag, wave, shake”) with reinforcement from Old Norse vaga (“to wag, waddle”); both from Proto-Germanic *wagōną (“to wag”). Related to English way.
The verb may be regarded as an iterative or emphatic form of waw (verb), which is often nearly synonymous; it was used, e.g., of a loose tooth. Parallel formations from the same root are the Old Norse vagga feminine, cradle (Swedish vagga, Danish vugge), Swedish vagga (“to rock a cradle”), vugge (“to rock a cradle”), Dutch wagen (“to move”), early modern German waggen (dialectal German wacken) to waver, totter. Compare waggle, verb
Meanings
An oscillating movement.
The wag of my dog's tail expresses happiness.
A witty person.
By Wednesday it had already won art-world notoriety, and on Saturday it achieved a public visibility that any artist would envy, after a self-promoting wag tore the banana off the wall and gobbled it up. 2019 December 8, Jason Farago, “A (Grudging) Defense of the $120,000 Banana”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
But being a bit of a wag, and relishing a good joke amazingly, he concluded to have a little fun, and at the same time learn his friend a lesson concerning his negligent custom. 1855 July 1, anonymous author, The Judge's Big Shirt, Yankee-notions, →ISSN:
Was not my Lord
The veryer Wag o'th' two? c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
Many people can't work from home - as one wag observed: "Well, I would, but the wife doesn't like me laying tarmac in the front room!" 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 70:
“A nice, juicy steak,” he is said to have called for, “French fries, apple pie and a cup of coffee.” It is probable that he really said “a coff of cuppee,” however, as he was a wag of the first water and loved a joke as well as the next king. 1922, Robert C. Benchley, chapter XXII, in Love Conquers All, Henry Holt & Company, page 111:
From Middle English waggen, probably from Old English wagian (“to wag, wave, shake”) with reinforcement from Old Norse vaga (“to wag, waddle”); both from Proto-Germanic *wagōną (“to wag”). Related to English way.
The verb may be regarded as an iterative or emphatic form of waw (verb), which is often nearly synonymous; it was used, e.g., of a loose tooth. Parallel formations from the same root are the Old Norse vagga feminine, cradle (Swedish vagga, Danish vugge), Swedish vagga (“to rock a cradle”), vugge (“to rock a cradle”), Dutch wagen (“to move”), early modern German waggen (dialectal German wacken) to waver, totter. Compare waggle, verb
Meanings
(ambitransitive) To swing from side to side, as an animal's tail, or someone's head to express disagreement or disbelief.
Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Bible Jeremiah:18–16:
Carrados wagged his head in good-humoured resignation. 1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
No discerner durst wag his tongue in censure. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
(Australia, New-Zealand, UK, slang) To play truant from school.
They had "wagged it" from school, as they termed it, which..meant truancy in all its forms. 1901, William Sylvester Walker, Blood, i. 13:
[…] she wagged English and Science just to go in his car […] 2005, Arctic Monkeys, “Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts”, in I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor:
"My misfortunes all began in wagging, Sir; but what could I do, exceptin' wag?" "Excepting what?" said Mr. Carker. "Wag, Sir. Wagging from school." "Do you mean pretending to go there, and not going?" said Mr. Carker. "Yes, Sir, that's wagging, Sir." 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “chapter xxii”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:
(intransitive, obsolete) To go; to proceed; to move; to progress.
"Thus we may see," quoth he, "how the world wags." c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
To move continually, especially in gossip; said of the tongue.
She's a real gossip: her tongue is always wagging.
(intransitive, obsolete) To leave; to depart.
I will provoke him to 't, or let him wag. 1623, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor:
(intransitive, slang) Of the tail (lower order of the batting lineup): to score more runs than expected.
The tail wagged.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
wagging
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
wagged
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
wagged
Tense=Past
lexicographic
wags
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Coordinates
no (swing from side to side) · nod (swing from side to side)
hu csóvál (to swing from side to side) · fi heiluttaa (to swing from side to side) · no skulke (to skip school) · cmn 翹課 /翘课 (to skip school) · ja 揺れる (to swing from side to side) · cmn 曠課 /旷课 (to skip school) · hu lóg (to skip school) · nl kwispelen (to swing from side to side) · ckb با دان (to swing from side to side) · grc σαίνω (to swing from side to side) · ru виля́ть (to swing from side to side) · bg клатя (to swing from side to side) · tr sallamak (to skip school) · ro chiuli (to skip school) · fr remuer (to swing from side to side) · mi tātā (to swing from side to side) · tr kırmak (to skip school) · gl latar (to skip school) · pt dar ao rabo (to swing from side to side) · bg бягам от училище (to skip school) · cy ysgwyd (to swing from side to side) · de schwänzen (to skip school) · es colear (to swing from side to side) · ru прогуля́ть (to skip school) · pt abanar (to swing from side to side) · fr frétiller (to swing from side to side) · sv skolka (to skip school) · es menear (to swing from side to side) · eo svingi (to swing from side to side) · km បក់ (to swing from side to side) · it marinare la scuola (to skip school) · mi tōroherohe (to swing from side to side) · hu ide-oda mozgat (to swing from side to side) · cmn 逃學 /逃学 (to skip school) · ru кача́ть (to swing from side to side) · ru прогу́ливать (to skip school) · fi huiskua (to swing from side to side) · br ober skol al louarn (to skip school) · ga croith (to swing from side to side) · da logre (to swing from side to side) · tr (okulu) asmak (to skip school) · pl wagarować (to skip school) · fi huiskuttaa (to swing from side to side) · pl merdać (to swing from side to side) · ru маха́ть (to swing from side to side) · gl brandear (to swing from side to side) · cy siglo (to swing from side to side) · pl machnąć (to swing from side to side) · fr sécher (to skip school) · pl merdnąć (to swing from side to side) · hu ingat (to swing from side to side) · gl abanar (to swing from side to side) · it scodinzolare (to swing from side to side) · pt vaguear (to skip school) · nl spijbelen (to skip school) · mi takawhetawheta (to swing from side to side) · fi heilua (to swing from side to side) · cmn 逃課 /逃课 (to skip school) · ja 振る (to swing from side to side) · hu lenget (to swing from side to side) · de wedeln (to swing from side to side) · mn шарвах (to swing from side to side) · pl machać (to swing from side to side) · no logre (to swing from side to side) · fr faire l’école buissonnière (to skip school) · pl zamerdać (to swing from side to side) · el κουνώ (to swing from side to side) · mi takē kura (to skip school) · hu ráz (to swing from side to side) · hu iskolát kerül (to skip school) · es rabear (to swing from side to side) · mi takawheta (to swing from side to side) · fi lintsata (to skip school) · ga luasc (to swing from side to side) · ca remenar (to swing from side to side) · fi huiskaa (to swing from side to side) · sv vifta (to swing from side to side)