slur. As adj.='Arch, Gamesome, Pleasant' (B. E.). As verb (or waggle)=generic for (1) playful or sportive, and (2) mocking, scornful, or derisive motion. Hence waggery, WAGGISHNESS, WAGGISH, etc.
c. 1550. Udal, Roister Doister [K. O., i. 492].
1592. G. Harvey, Foure Letters, Pref. But mildly and calmly shew how discredit reboundeth upon the anthors, as dust flyeth back into the wag's eyes that will needs be puffing it up.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, ii. 1. 119. I know you by the waggling of your head. Ibid. (1601), Henry VIII., v. 3. Let me see the proudest He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee.
1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ii. 1. A wanton wagging of your head. Ibid. (1609), Epicœne, v. 1. Let's wanton it a little and talk waggishly.
1607. Heywood, Fair Maid of the Exchange [Works, 11. 66]. And with the Nymphes that haunt the silver streames, Learne to entice the affable young wagge.
1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe, iii. 2. Wag . . . Wilt be secret?
1611. Bible, Matthew xxvii. 39. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads.
1635. Quarles, Emblems, ii. 12. Let ditch-bred wealth henceforth forget to wag Her base though golden tail.
d. 1654. Selden, Table Talk, 97. He did by the Parliament as an Ape when he hath done some waggery.
1655. Com. Hist. Francion, iv. 22. He said to the three buffles who stood with their hats in their hands, Tell me, you Waggs, etc.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, i. 1. Jack, thou thinkest thyself in the Forecastle, thou'rt so waggish.
1710. Steele, Tatler, 184. A wag is the last order even of pretenders to wit and humour.
1726. Vanbrugh, Journey to London, iii. 1. Sir Fran. A prodigious civil gentleman, uncle; and yet as bold as Alexander upon occasion. Unc. Rich. Upon a lady's occasion. Sir Fran. Ha, ha, you are a wag, uncle.
1820. Irving, Sketch-book, 434. It left Brom no alternative but to draw upon the funds of rustic waggery in his disposition.
1828. Eng. Spy, 1. 189. The man upon that half-starved nag Is an ex-S-ff, a strange wag, Half flash and half a clown.
1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xviii. She . . . waggles her little hand before her face, as if to blow you a kiss, as the phrase is.
1851. Longfellow, Golden Legend, vi. Let us see what the learned wag maintains With such a prodigal waste of brains.
2. (school).—The wag=truancy. As verb (or TO play, or hop, the wag)=to be truant: also Charley-wag (g.v.).
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 111. 207. They often persuaded me to hop THE WAG.
1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 59. Readier to play the Charley-wag than to be . . . in any prominent position in his class or form.
1901. Walker, In the Blood, 13. They had wagged it from school, as they termed it, which was an unvarying practice of theirs, and meant truancy in all its forms.
Verb (old).—1. See subs. supra.
2. (colloquial).—To stir, move, make way, progress.
1546. Heywood, Proverbs. Let the world wagge and take mine ease in mine inne.
1600. Shakspeare, As You Like It, ii. 7. Thus may we see, quoth he, how the world wags.
3. (colloquial).—To go, be off, depart, begone.
1589. Puttenham, Art of Eng. Poesie, 194. It is said by maner of a prouerbial speach that he who findes himselfe well should not wagge.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, ii. They made a pretty good shift to wag along.
