Daily Almanac for
Dec 1, 2009
Search White Pages
Search: Infoplease Info search tips
Search: Biographies Bio search tips
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—F

Fag

One who does, and perseveres in doing. In public schools, it means a little boy who waits upon a bigger one. Probably a contracted form of factor, factotum; Latin, fac-ere, to do.

Fag.
Servant of Captain Absolute, who apes his master in all things. ( Sheridan: The Rivals.)

“Even the mendacious Mr. Fag assures us, though he never scruples to tell a lie at his master's command, yet it hurts his conscience to be found out.” —Sir Walter Scott.

Fag-end
(A). The selvedge or coarse end of a piece of cloth. This also is from facio, factum, meaning the part added after the piece is finished. The fag-end of a session means the last few days before dissolution.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Fagged Out
Faërie Queene
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Fag from Infoplease:

    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

Related Content