c. 1879. North Am. Rev. [Century]. Fortunately the 'specie basis' of the national banks is now chiefly paper—the rag-baby—three hundred and forty-six millions of greenbacks.
5. (service).—A flag: spec. the Union, but also the regimental colours. Hence rag-carrier = an ensign (Grose).
186[?]. Whitman [in Century, xxxvi. 827]. It cost three men's lives to get back that four-by-three flag—to tear it from the breast of a dead rebel—for the name of getting their little rag back again.
c. 1870. Music Hall Song, 'John Bull's Flag.' In India Nana Sahib flew, when Campbell showed the flag, At Trafalgar, too, when Nelson fell, he died before the rag.
1892. Kipling, Barrack-Room Ballads, 'The Rhyme of the Three Captains.' Dip their flag to a slaver's rag—to show that his trade is fair. Ibid., 'The Widow at Windsor.' You won't get away from the tune that they play To the bloomin' old rag over 'ead.
1901. Henley, For England's Sake, 'The Man in the Street.' And if it's the rag of rags that calls us roaring into the fight, We'll die in a glory.
6. (actors' and showmen's).—(1) The curtain; whence (2) a dénouement, i.e., a "curtain" = a situation on which to bring down the drop; rags-and-sticks = a travelling outfit: see quots. passim.
1875. Athenæum, 24 April, 545, 2. Rags is another uncomplimentary term applied by prosperous members of circuses to the street tumblers.
1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 99. Sawny Williams . . . was horrified at finding his rags and sticks, as a theatrical booth is always termed, just as he had left them the overnight.
1886. Referee, 20 June. Poor Miss A was left for quite a minute before the rag could be unhitched and made to shut out the tragic situation.
1897. Marshall, 'Pomes,' 44. Which brought down the rag on no end of a mess.
7. (military).—The order of the rag = the profession of arms; rag-fair = kit inspection (Grose). See Rag-and-Famish.
1751. Fielding, Amelia, II. iv. It is the opinion which, I believe, most of you young gentlemen of the order of the rag deserve.
8. (common).—The tongue: also red-rag, or red-flannel (B. E., c. 1696; Dyche, 1748; Grose, 1785); (9) = talk, banter, abuse. As verb. = (1) to scold; (2) to chaff; and (3—American University) to declaim or compose better than one's class-mates: see Ragtime. Whence rag-box (or -shop) = the mouth; rag-sauce = (1) chatter, and (2) cheek (q.v.); ragster = a bully or scold; a dish of red-rag = abuse; to chew the rag = (1) to scold, and (2) to sulk; to give the red rag a holiday = to be silent; too much red rag = loquacious.
1820. Combe, Syntax, Consolations, IV. For well I know by your glib tongue, To what fine country you belong. And if your red rag did not show it, By your queer fancies I should know it.
1821. Egan, Life in London, II. iv. 'Hang you! . . . if you don't hold that are red rag of yours, I'll spoil your mouth.' Ibid. Anec. of Turf, 183. She tipped the party such a dish of red rag as almost to create a riot in the street. Ibid. (1842), Jack Flashman [in Captain Macheath]. Here's the rag-sauce of a friend.
1826. Bruton, My Mugging Maia [Univ. Songst. iii. 103]. Say, mugging Moll, why that red-rag . . . is now so mute.
1876. W. S. Gilbert, Dan'l Druce, i. Stop that cursed red rag of yours, will you?
1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, xiv. "You're right there, sir," said Dick; "he ought to be well ragged for it."
