drag

drag · noun, verb, adjective¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*dʰregʰ-
2. Proto-Indo-European*dʰrógʰ-e-ti
3. Proto-Germanic*draganą
4. Proto-West Germanic*dragan
5. Old Englishdragan
6. Middle Englishdragen
7. Middle Englishdraggen
8. Low Germandraggeinflu.
9. English todaydrag

From Middle English draggen (“to drag”), early Middle English dragen (“to draw, carry”), confluence of Old English dragan (“to drag, draw, draw oneself, go, protract”) and Old Norse draga (“to draw, attract”); both from Proto-Germanic *draganą (“to draw, drag”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to draw, drag”). Verb sense influenced due to association with the noun drag (“that which is hauled or dragged”), related to Low German dragge (“a drag-anchor, grapnel”). Cognate with Danish drægge (“to dredge”), Danish drage (“to draw, attract”), Swedish dragga (“to drag, drag anchor, sweep”), Swedish draga (“to draw, go”), Icelandic draga (“to drag, pull”). Doublet of draw.

drag · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European*dʰregʰ-
2. Proto-Indo-European*dʰrógʰ-e-ti
3. Proto-Germanic*draganą
4. Proto-West Germanic*dragan
5. Old Englishdragan
6. Middle Englishdragen
7. Middle Englishdraggen
8. Low Germandraggeinflu.
9. Englishdrag?
10. Proto-West Germanic*dragan
11. Old High Germantragan
12. Middle High Germantragen
13. Yiddishטראָגן (trogn)?
14. English todaydrag

Possibly from English drag (“to pull along a surface”) because of the sensation of long skirts trailing on the floor, or from Yiddish טראָגן (trogn, “to wear”)

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid-18th c. A long open horse-drawn carriage with transverse or side seats.
• from mid-19th c. A street.
• from late 19th c. Women's clothing, accessories, and makeup worn by men for the purpose of entertainment.
• from early 20th c. A men's party attended in women's clothing.