wag
wag Lexical Profile
wag Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To move or cause to move briskly and repeatedly from side to side or up and down (especially of an animal's tail or a person's finger).
"The puppy began to wag its tail excitedly as soon as it heard the front door open."
To move in continuous, idle, or indiscreet chatter or gossip (used especially of the tongue, jaw, or chin).
"News of the unexpected merger is sure to set tongues wagging across the industry."
Australian To absent oneself from school or work without permission; to play truant.
"Several students were caught trying to wag school on the last Friday of the term."
• noun
A single rapid movement from side to side or up and down, especially of a dog's tail or a person's finger.
"The golden retriever greeted the visitors with a friendly wag of his tail."
A mischievous or humorous person who enjoys making witty remarks and playing harmless jokes.
"Some local wag had placed atraffic cone on top of the bronze statue in the town square."
Australian An act of playing truant from school or work.
"He decided to take a wag from afternoon classes and head to the beach."
• Rhymes for wag
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English waggen, likely of Scandinavian origin (akin to Old Swedish vagga, meaning 'to rock' or 'cradle'), tracing back to the Proto-Germanic root *wag- ('to swing or move'). The noun sense meaning a joker or prankster emerged in the 16th century, shortened from the earlier slang term waghalter ('one likely to swing from a gallows halter').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.