noun
ragamuffin
RAG-uh-muf-in/ˈræɡəmʌfɪn/
A person, especially a child, wearing ragged, untidy clothes.
In his torn shirt, the boy looks like a ragamuffin.
Etymology
The ragged element points to shabby appearance; the ending is uncertain, described as fanciful or possibly connected with a word for mitten. The word moved from demon to ragged lout, then specifically to a dirty, ragged child.
More examples
- The little ragamuffin wears patched pants and mismatched socks.
- She calls her kids ragamuffins when they come home in muddy clothes.
- With my ripped jeans and frayed sweater, I look like a ragamuffin.
Forms
ragamuffin · ragamuffins