ragged

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹæɡɪd/ / /ɹæɡd/

Etymology: From Middle English ragged, from North Germanic. Compare with Old Norse rǫgvaðr (“tufted”) and Norwegian ragget (“shaggy”).

In tatters, having the texture broken.
“a ragged coat”
“a ragged sail”
Having rough edges; jagged or uneven
“ragged rocks”
Harsh-sounding; having an unpleasant noise
“There was a ragged noise of bleating from the flock penned in a corner of the yard. Two red-armed men seized a sheep, hauled it to a large bath that stood in the middle of the yard, and there held it, more or less in the bath, whilst a third man baled a dirty yellow liquid over its body.”
Wearing tattered clothes.
“a ragged person”
“She ran to the door and there beheld the ragged street urchin calmly playing his organ.”
Rough; shaggy; rugged.
“Seeking out the poorer quarters Where the ragged people go”
Faulty; lacking in skill, reliability, or organization.
“Now I realize how ridiculous and almost impertinent it was to expect New Yorkers to accept such a ragged performance for they have always demanded the best and do not tolerate the second-rate."”
“Allardyce's side had led at the break through a Carlton Cole strike but after Thomas Ince - son of former Hammers midfielder Paul - levelled shortly after the restart, the match became increasingly stretched and ragged.”
Performed in a syncopated manner, especially in ragtime.
Of a data structure: having uneven levels.
“a ragged hierarchy”
“a ragged array, consisting of a number of arrays of varying size”
Not justified; having an uneven vertical margin.
“Newspaper columns should never be set ragged.”

Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.