Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rag \Rag\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Ragged}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Ragging}.]
   To become tattered. [Obs.]

Ragged \Rag"ged\, a. [From {Rag}, n.]
   1. Rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken;
      as, a ragged coat; a ragged sail.

   2. Broken with rough edges; having jags; uneven; rough;
      jagged; as, ragged rocks.

   3. Hence, harsh and disagreeable to the ear; dissonant. [R.]
      ``A ragged noise of mirth.'' --Herbert.

   4. Wearing tattered clothes; as, a ragged fellow.

   5. Rough; shaggy; rugged.

            What shepherd owns those ragged sheep ? --Dryden.

   {Ragged lady} (Bot.), the fennel flower ({Nigella
      Damascena}).

   {Ragged robin} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Lychnis} ({L.
      Flos-cuculi}), cultivated for its handsome flowers, which
      have the petals cut into narrow lobes.

   {Ragged sailor} (Bot.), prince's feather ({Polygonum
      orientale}).

   {Ragged school}, a free school for poor children, where they
      are taught and in part fed; -- a name given at first
      because they came in their common clothing. [Eng.] --
      {Rag"ged*ly}, adv. -- {Rag"ged*ness}, n.

Source : WordNet®

ragged
     adj 1: being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn; "clothes
            as ragged as a scarecrow's"; "a ragged tramp"
     2: worn out from stress or strain; "run ragged"
     3: having an irregular outline; "text set with ragged right
        margins"; "herded the class into a ragged line"

rag
     n 1: a small piece of cloth or paper [syn: {shred}, {tag}, {tag
          end}, {tatter}]
     2: a week at British universities during which side-shows and
        processions of floats are organized to raise money for
        charities [syn: {rag week}]
     3: music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano) [syn:
         {ragtime}]
     4: newspaper with half-size pages [syn: {tabloid}, {sheet}]
     5: a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)
     [also: {ragging}, {ragged}]

rag
     v 1: treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering
          teacher" [syn: {torment}, {bedevil}, {crucify}, {dun}, {frustrate}]
     2: cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor
        irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers
        me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after
        she leaves" [syn: {annoy}, {get to}, {bother}, {get at}, {irritate},
         {rile}, {nark}, {nettle}, {gravel}, {vex}, {chafe}, {devil}]
     3: play in ragtime; "rag that old tune"
     4: harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children
        teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my
        failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a
        jacket and tie" [syn: {tease}, {razz}, {cod}, {tantalize},
         {tantalise}, {bait}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally}, {ride}]
     5: censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child
        for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the
        Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for
        bringing cold soup" [syn: {call on the carpet}, {rebuke},
        {trounce}, {reproof}, {lecture}, {reprimand}, {jaw}, {dress
        down}, {call down}, {scold}, {chide}, {berate}, {bawl out},
         {remonstrate}, {chew out}, {chew up}, {have words}, {lambaste},
         {lambast}]
     6: break into lumps before sorting; "rag ore"
     [also: {ragging}, {ragged}]

ragged
     See {rag}