Definify.com
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. bewegen
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 headNo 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
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.
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.
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.