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Webster 1913 Edition

Wag

Wag

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Wagged
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Wagging
.]
[OE.
waggen
; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw.
vagga
to rock a cradle,
vagga
cradle, Icel.
vagga
, Dan.
vugge
; akin to AS.
wagian
to move, wag,
wegan
to bear, carry, G. & D. be
wegen
to move, and E.
weigh
. √136. See
Weigh
.]
To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to and fro; to move vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part of the body;
as, to
wag
the head
.
No discerner durst
wag
his tongue in censure.
Shakespeare
Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and
wag
his head.
Jer. xviii. 16.
☞ Wag expresses specifically the motion of the head and body used in buffoonery, mirth, derision, sport, and mockery.

Wag

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To move one way and the other; to be shaken to and fro; to vibrate.
The resty sieve
wagged
ne’er the more.
Dryden.
2.
To be in action or motion; to move; to get along; to progress; to stir.
[Colloq.]
“Thus we may see,” quoth he, “how the world
wags
.”
Shakespeare
3.
To go; to depart; to pack oft.
[R.]
I will provoke him to 't, or let him
wag
.
Shakespeare

Wag

,
Noun.
[From
Wag
,
Verb.
]
1.
The act of wagging; a shake;
as, a
wag
of the head
.
[Colloq.]
2.
[Perhaps shortened from
wag-halter
a rogue.]
A man full of sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit; a joker.
We wink at
wags
when they offend.
Dryden.
A counselor never pleaded without a piece of pack thread in his hand, which he used to twist about a finger all the while he was speaking; the
wags
used to call it the thread of his discourse.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Wag

WAG

,
Verb.
T.
To move one way and the other with quick turns; to move a little way, and then turn the other way; as, to wag the head.
Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. Jer. 18. Matt 27. [Wag expresses particulary the motion of the head and body used in buffoonery, mirth, derision, sport and mockery. It is applied also to birds and beasts; as, to wag the tail.]

WAG

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be quick in ludicrous motion; to stir.
Tis merry in hall, where beards wag all.
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw.
2.
To go; to depart; to pack offf.
I will provoke him tot, or let him wag.
3.
To be moved one way and the other.
The resty sieve waggd neer the more.

WAG

,
Noun.
A droll; a man full of low sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow.
We wink at wags, when they offend.
The counselor never pleaded without a piece of packthread in his hand, which he used to twist about his finger all the while he was speaking; the wags used to call it the thread of his discourse.

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