shag
shag Lexical Profile
shag Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A rough, tangled mass of hair, or a type of carpet or rug featuring a long, thick pile.
"The living room was decorated in a retro style, complete with a bright orange shag."
A medium-sized seabird belonging to the cormorant family, native to coastal regions of Europe and North Africa, characterized by its dark plumage and prominent crest.
"We stood on the cliffs and watched a shag dive into the turbulent coastal waters in search of fish."
American A partner dance originating in the United States, typically performed to beach music or swing music.
"They spent the summer learning the Carolina shag for the upcoming coastal heritage festival."
• verb
British To have sexual intercourse with someone (vulgar slang).
"The comedian made a crude joke about young couples looking for a place to shag."
American To chase after and catch fly balls during baseball batting practice.
"The players spent the early afternoon shagging fly balls in the outfield to warm up."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, 'shag' typically refers to a type of carpet, a dance, or catching baseballs, but in British English, it is widely used as a vulgar slang term for sexual intercourse.
• Rhymes for shag
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'sceacga', meaning a rough mass of hair. The British slang sense arose in the late 18th century, while the American baseball sense (to retrieve balls) dates to the early 20th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.