fag

verb (1)

\ ˈfag

fagged; fagging

Definition of fag

(Entry 1 of 6)

intransitive verb

: to work hard : toil

transitive verb

: to tire by strenuous activity : exhaust fagged by the strenuous climb

fag

noun (1)

Definition of fag (Entry 2 of 6)

1 chiefly British : toil, drudgery it is such a fag; I came back tired to death— Jane Austen

2 : drudge sense 1

fag

noun (2)

Definition of fag (Entry 3 of 6)

: an English public-school boy who acts as servant to an older schoolmate

fag

verb (2)

fagged; fagging; fags

Definition of fag (Entry 4 of 6)

intransitive verb

: to serve as a fag (see fag entry 3) especially in an English public school fagging for older boys during his first year

fag

noun (3)

Definition of fag (Entry 5 of 6)

: cigarette

fag

noun (4)

Definition of fag (Entry 6 of 6)

offensive

—used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a male homosexual

First Known Use of fag

Verb (1)

1772, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1785, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1806, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1921, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fag

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

perhaps from obsolete fag to droop, from fag fag end

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

probably short for faggot

Noun (3)

fag end

Noun (4)

see faggot

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Time Traveler for fag

The first known use of fag was in 1770

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propitious

likely to have or produce good results

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