shaggy
UK: ˈʃæɡi | US: ˈʃæɡi
adj. having long, rough, or unkempt hair or fur
adj. covered with or resembling rough, tangled material
adj. (informal) disheveled or untidy in appearance
shaggy = shag<rough hair or material> + y<adjective suffix>
- shag (from Old English sceacga, meaning "rough matted hair" or "coarse cloth")
- y (a common English suffix forming adjectives, indicating "characterized by" or "full of")
Etymology Origin:
The word shaggy traces back to Old English sceacga, which referred to rough, matted hair or coarse fabric. Over time, the suffix -y was added to form an adjective describing anything covered in or resembling such texture. The term evolved to describe both literal unkempt fur/hair and figurative disarray, reflecting its vivid imagery of roughness.
The shaggy dog shook water off its coat after the rain.
His shaggy beard made him look older than he was.
The old rug had a shaggy texture that scratched my feet.
She wore a shaggy sweater that seemed handmade.
The forest floor was covered in shaggy moss and fallen leaves.