See Also:

wag (iou)



wag verb. [wag] Infl. -gg-. ME.
[Iterative from base of Old English wagian: see WAW verb1. Cf. QUAG verb.]
I. verb intrans.
Be in motion or activity; move. Now (colloq.), stir one's limbs (usu. in neg. contexts). ME.
G. J. Whyte-Melville Poor devil!..could hardly wag coming up the hill.
Totter, stagger, threaten to fall. ME-L15.
Move about from place to place; wander. ME-M16.
Move, shake, or sway to and fro or from side to side, esp. in a rapid or energetic manner. LME.
A. Dillard The floor wagged under my feet. Guardian Beards and earrings wagged in agreement.
b. Of a plant, leaves, etc.: quiver, waver. obsolete exc. Scot. LME.
c. fig. Waver, vacillate. rare. LME-M16.
d. Swing on the gallows, be hanged. LME-M16.
e. Of the tongue: move briskly in animated speech, esp. in gossip or idle talk. Esp. in tongues wag below. L16.
Shift or budge from a place. Usu. in neg. contexts. LME-M18.
T. Hearne I cannot wag out of Oxford till the Term is ended.
a. Of the world, times, etc.: go along with varied fortune or characteristics. arch. E16.
b. Go, set off. Now rare. L16.
Alan Ross He..never would wag any where without 60 Chariots.
c. Travel, proceed; go along, carry on. Also foll. by on. Now Scot. & colloq. L17.
A. McNeill He wagged along and helped to build up the commercial greatness..of his country.
II. verb trans.
Brandish (a weapon). Also, wave (something) to attract attention or as a signal etc. ME.
G. McCaughrean He..wagged his flag, but it only seemed to madden the horse.
Move (esp. a limb or part of the body) to and fro or from side to side, esp. with rapid, repeated movements; shake (the head). ME.
T. C. Wolfe The little man..wagged a finger roguishly. I. Colegate He twinkled..at her, wagging his old head from side to side.
b. Of an animal: move (the tail) from side to side. LME.
c. Flap (the wings). L15-L16.
d. Move (the tongue) in animated speech, esp. in gossip or idle talk. M16.
W. H. Dixon Every one who owed him grudge would eagerly..wag his tongue.
e. Move, stir, (a limb, finger, etc.). Usu. in neg. contexts. Now colloq. L16.
Set in motion, cause to quiver or shake, stir. ME-L17.
III. [from WAG noun2.]
a. verb intrans. & trans. (with it). Play truant. slang. L19.
b. verb trans. Play truant from. Austral. slang. L20.
Phrases: beards wag, chins wag, jaws wag, tongues wag there is talk or gossip. how the world wags arch. how affairs are going or conducted. jaws wag: see beards wag above. let the world wag (as it will) arch. regard the course of events with unconcern. the tail wags the dog: see TAIL noun1. tongues wag: see beards wag above. wag one's finger at: see FINGER noun.
Comb.: wag-at-the-wall Scot. & north. (a) a hanging wall clock with pendulum and weights exposed; (b) a household goblin; waghalter a person likely to swing in the hangman's noose, a gallows-bird; wag-string = waghalter above; WAGTAIL.
waggable adjective (rare) able to be wagged M19.