ragamuffin
/ˈɹæɡəˌmʌfɪn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.99 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Alternative letter-case form of Ragamuffin (“a breed of domestic cat”).
noun
A domestic cat of a particular heavy, muscular, short-necked breed.
Example Sentences
- "I haue led my rag of Muffins where they are pepper'd: there's not three of my 150 left aliue; and they for the Townes end, to beg during life."
- "“But may I inquire how you intend to support the establishment? If all the pupils are little ragamuffins, I’m afraid your crop won’t be profitable in a worldly sense, Mrs. Bhaer.”"
- ""They called her a little blue raggamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in, looking very angry; "but I have given it to them, they won't insult my sister again.[…]""
- "'Yes, he is mine—I took him, a homeless little ragamuffin, but I saw what was in him, and I said his name would be heard some day—behold him, observe him—was I right?'"
- "After walking a ways, Jurgis met a little ragamuffin whom he hailed: "Hey, sonny!""
- "He had found out the house of Frau von Einem without much trouble, and had performed with his ragamuffins in the servants' quarters."
Etymology
From the Middle English Ragamuffyn. Of uncertain origin, according to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: A muffin is a poor thing of a creature, a ‘regular muff’; so that a ragamuffin is a sorry creature in rags.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Ragamuffyn