[f. the vb.]

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  1.  That which causes weariness; hard work, toil, drudgery, fatigue. colloq.

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1780.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary & Lett., 13 April. This was my fag till after tea.

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1798.  Nelson, Letter (1814), II. 233. As no fleet has more fag than this, nothing but the … greatest attention can keep them healthy.

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1847.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 8. To stay over Tuesday is not worth the fag of going and coming.

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1860.  Dixon, Hist. Bacon, x. § 19. The fag and contest of the world.

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  2.  In English public schools, a junior who performs certain duties for a senior. Also transf. a drudge.

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1785.  R. Cumberland, Observer, xcv. § 3. I had the character at school of being the very best fag that ever came into it.

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1811.  L. M. Hawkins, The Countess and Gertrude, I. iii. 50. Many a mistress of a family, when she fancies herself what is called ‘settled,’ finds herself in the situation of ‘a fag’ at our public schools.

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1841.  Macaulay, Warren Hastings, Essays, (1851), 597. Whenever Hastings wished to play any trick more than usually naughty, he hired Impey with a tart or a ball to act as fag in the worst part of the prank.

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1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, I. viii. It had struck nine, so the regular night-fags had left duty.

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  transf.  a. 1839.  Praed, Poems (1864), II. 115, ‘Surly Hall.’

        First in the race is William Tag,
Thalia’s most industrious fag.

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1855.  Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 171. The diminutive fag of the studio, who ran on all the young men’s errands.

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  3.  attrib. as fag-day, -partner (cf. fagging partner under FAGGING ppl. a.)

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1828.  Aird, ‘Buy a Broom?’ in Blackw. Mag., XXIV. Dec., 713/1. A fag partner at whist when a better fourth hand is wanting.

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1885.  Pall Mall G., 27 May, 6/1. Far more exhausting than a fag day of five hours at Rugby.

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