ragtag and bobtail

or rag, tag, and bobtail; tagrag and bobtail

noun

the riffraff; rabble: The ragtag and bobtail of every nation poured into the frontier in search of gold.

Origin of ragtag and bobtail

First recorded in 1810–20

Words nearby ragtag and bobtail

ragout, ragpicker, rags, ragstone, ragtag, ragtag and bobtail, ragtime, ragtop, ragusa, ragweed, ragwork

Example sentences from the Web for rag-tag and bobtail

  • It has the credit of leading public opinion, when it only follows it; and look at the rag-tag-and-bobtail that contribute to it.

    Lippincott's Magazine, December, 1885 |Various

  • Think of the rag-tag-and-bobtail they will bring with them!'

    Demos |George Gissing