ragamuffin
pronunciation
How to pronounce ragamuffin in British English:
UK [ˈrægəmʌfɪn]
How to pronounce ragamuffin in American English:
US [ˈræɡəˌmʌfɪn]
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- Noun:
- a dirty shabbily clothed urchin
Word Origin
- ragamuffin (n.)
- mid-14c., "demon," also in surnames (Isabella Ragamuffyn, 1344), from Middle English raggi "ragged" ("rag-y"?) + fanciful ending (or else second element is Middle Dutch muffe "mitten"). Or, as Johnson has it, "From rag and I know not what else." Ragged was used of the devil from c. 1300 in reference to "shaggy" appearance. Raggeman was used by Langland as the name of a demon, and compare Old French Ragamoffyn, name of a demon in a mystery play. Sense of "dirty, disreputable boy" is from 1580s. Compare in the same sense ragabash (c. 1600).
Example
- 1. I beiieve the ragamuffin convention is in the alley behind the hotei .
- 2. Oh , is little miss ragamuffin also patron of the arts ?
- 3. " On this the giant said to him , " go , little ragamuffin , and fetch me a jug of water .
- 4. At the pearl tower , one of shanghai ` s most famous attractions , a sign forbids " ragamuffin , drunken people and psychotic " from entering .