# rag bagger

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rag-bagger
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.

## Examples

- That old rag bagger spends all his time fixing his boat.
- The marina is full of serious racers, but he is a happy rag bagger who prefers a slow, messy cruise.
- While the yacht club members polished their pristine hulls, the seasoned rag bagger simply hoisted his patched sails and headed out to sea.

## Origin

Derived from a combination of rag, in reference to the sails of a vessel, and bagger, denoting the storage of numerous items.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.