1. "Ragman" (Old French) - 13th Century
* Meaning: A person who deals in rags or old clothes.
* Origin: This is the earliest known form, derived from the Old French "rag(e)," meaning "rag" and "man," a common suffix for people associated with a trade.
2. "Ragman's Roll" (13th Century)
* Meaning: A list of people who owed allegiance to the English Crown in Scotland.
* Origin: During the 13th century, English officials would travel to Scotland and collect oaths of allegiance. These oaths were written on rolls of parchment and are believed to have been carried by someone referred to as a "ragman."
3. "Ragamuffin" (Late 1500s)
* Meaning: A ragged, disheveled, and often poor person.
* Origin: The word "ragamuffin" likely originated from the association of "ragman" with poverty and the fact that the "ragman's rolls" were often associated with rebellious or unruly people. The "muffin" suffix, which was a common term for a beggar or vagrant, contributed to the pejorative meaning.
4. "Ragamuffin" (18th-19th Century)
* Meaning: A term for children, especially those who are poor and dressed in rags.
* Origin: The term "ragamuffin" started being widely used to refer to children, particularly those in poverty. This may have been due to their clothing or their perceived unruly behavior.
Summary: The journey of "ragamuffin" shows how language evolves through associations and shifts in meaning. From a word describing a trade to a pejorative term for the poor and unruly, its history is intertwined with social and political contexts.