▪ I.draggle,v.|ˈdræg(ə)l|Also (5 ? drakel), 6–8 dragle, 6–9 Sc.draigle.[Not certainly known before 16th c.;app.dim.andfreq.of drag v.:cf.waggle, and see -le.]1.trans.To wet or befoul (a garment, etc.) by allowing it to drag through mire or wet grass, or to hang untidily in the rain; to make wet, limp, and dirty.[1499Promp. Parv. 129/2Drabelyn (drakelyn, Pynson), paludo, traunlimo (sic).]
1513Douglasæneis vii.Prol.76Puire laboraris and byssy husband men Went wayt and wery draglyt in the fen.
a1605MontgomerieFlyting w. Polwart 361Draiglit throw dirtie dubes and dykes.
―Sonnets lxvi,Draiglit in dirt.
1773Goldsm.Stoops to Conq. v. (Globe) 672/2Draggled up to the waist.
1837CarlyleFr.Rev.I. vii. xi,The wet day draggles the tricolor.
1880WebbGoethe's FaustPref.ii. 18If she falls, she is not draggled in the mire.
†2.To drag or trail (through the dirt). Obs.1714C. JohnsonCountry Lasses ii. i,Here you have dragled me a long way.
1723State of Russia II. 79They take it by the Tail, and draggle it thrice round theIdol.
3.intr.(for refl.) To trail (on the ground), hang trailing. So †to draggle it.c1594in PollenActsEng.Martyrs (1891) 333On the hurdle..one of his legs draggled on the ground as he was drawn.
c1660WoodLife (Oxf.Hist.Soc.) I. 300Masters gownes long, dragling on the ground.
1775S. J. PrattLib. Opinions (1783) IV. 16[Man]draggles it on foot upon the polluted earth.
1815Lady GranvilleLett.5 Sept. (1894) I. 78Flounces draggling.
1859G. W. DasentPop.Tales fr. Norse 356Such..long wool, it hung down and draggled after him on the ground.
4.intr.To come on or follow slowly and in a straggling train.1577HanmerAnc.Eccl.Hist.(1619) 477The spies came dragling in after in base attire.
a1598R. RollockWks.(WodrowSoc.) II. xxxii. 389He that draigled behind will be before thee.
1809W. IrvingKnickerb. (1861) 209With heavy hearts they draggled at the heels of his troop.
1878R. B. SmithCarthage 205Some beasts of burden which had lagged behind..came draggling in one after the other.
Hence ˈdraggling vbl.n.andppl.a.a1598R. RollockWks.(WodrowSoc.) II. xxxii. 389A draigling person.
Ibid.,He or she that will persevere in draigling.
1663ButlerHud. i. i. 449His draggling tail hung in the dirt.
1840ThackerayGeorge Cruikshank (1869) 304My lady with the ermine tippet and draggling feather.
1886Manch.Exam.6 Jan. 5/2After the Speaker is chosen, several days will pass in draggling fashion.
▪ II.draggle,n.rare.[f.prec.vb.]1.The action of draggling.1894S. A. BrookeTennyson x. 330The dull coarseness and the draggle of the last days of luxury and adultery.
2.One who draggles. Sc.1806TrainPoet.Reveries 64 (Jam.)To her came a rewayl'd draggle.
