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    • 19th century

      • The word “toe-rag” is a derogatory slang term primarily used in the UK. It is used to denote somebody who is quite despicable, unpleasant, and untrustworthy. The origins of this word can be traced back to the 19th century when it was derived from the practice of wearing rags on toes.
      oneminuteenglish.org/toe-rag-origin-meaning/
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  2. Where does the noun toe-rag come from? Earliest known use. 1820s. toe-rag is formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: toe n., rag n.2. See etymology. Nearby entries. toenail, n. 1841–.

  3. Simply put, “toe-rag” is a derogatory slang term commonly used in the UK (and Australia) used to identify somebody you don’t like. It also refers to an unpleasant, contemptible person you can’t stand or bear. An important thing to note here is that toe-rag is sometimes spelled as “tow-rag.”.

  4. Sep 2, 2022 · Although the exact origin of the expression is not known, it started emerging in Britain in the mid 1800s, with the first documented record of “Toe rag” being found in the autobiographical memoirs of John Frederick Mortlock, published in 1865, under the title “Experiences of a Convinct”.

  5. etymology. house of commons. ‘I am glad to say that I have never seen a toe-rag,’ said my husband, assuming, as unconvincingly as one would expect, the demeanour of Gwendolen from The ...

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  6. Sep 8, 2003 · The word had taken on its present meaning by early in the 20th century in both Britain and Australia. During the 1950s and 1960s toerag was an obscure cockney term; it was given wider currency in the 1970s by TV programmes such as 'The Sweeney' and the pop songs of Ian Dury.

  7. Jul 25, 2020 · toe-rag in 224......... noun. Brit A contemptible or worthless person. 1912–. H.Calvin Move, ya useless big toerag! (1971). [From earlier ... Access to the complete content on Oxford Reference requires a subscription or purchase.

  8. Jul 28, 2001 · It means that the person addressed is contemptible or worthless, a scrounger. Though it can be a relatively mild insult among friends, you should avoid saying it to strangers unless you want a smack in the mush or a punch up the bracket. The original form — in the nineteenth century — was toe rag.

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