The Rag
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The Army and Navy Club. "The rag," of course, is the flag. "By the way, come and dine to-night at the Rag," said the major. — Truth. Queer Story, April 1st, 1886.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Rag” mean?
The Army and Navy Club. "The rag," of course, is the flag. "By the way, come and dine to-night at the Rag," said the major. — Truth. Queer Story, April 1st, 1886.
Is “The Rag” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.