hag
hag Lexical Profile
hag Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A witch or evil spirit in folklore, typically depicted in the form of a withered, malevolent old woman.
"In the traditional fairy tale, a cackling hag lurks deep inside the enchanted forest."
An ugly, unpleasant, or cantankerous old woman (used as a disparaging term).
"The grumpy landlord was unfairly described by the tenants as a bitter old hag."
An eel-like marine jawless vertebrate of the family Myxinidae, found in cold ocean waters worldwide and noted for producing copious slime; a hagfish.
"The fishermen were dismayed to find a slimy hag tangled in their deep-sea nets."
Scottish A soft, marshy hollow or an overhanging bank of peat in a moor or bog, found especially in Scotland and northern England.
"The hikers had to navigate carefully around the deep peat hags scattered across the moorland."
• verb
To harass, torment, or weary someone, as if by a nightmare or witch.
"Relentless anxieties continued to hag the exhausted travelers throughout the night."
Scottish To hack, chop, or hew wood with rough strokes.
"The woodsman spent the afternoon hagging away at the fallen timber."
Word Nuance & Usage
When applied to real people rather than folklore figures, 'hag' is a strongly derogatory and sexist slur used to demean older women.
• Rhymes for hag
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'hagge', a shortening of Old English 'hægtesse' (witch or fury), ultimately from a Proto-Germanic compound related to 'hedge', suggesting a spirit that straddles the boundary between the civilized world and the wild.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.