To make something ragged or tattered; to tear or reduce something to rags or tatters.
From 'be-' (intensive prefix) + 'tatter' (from Middle English, possibly from Scandinavian roots, meaning torn pieces or rags). The 'be-' prefix emphasizes complete destruction.
In an era when clothes were expensive and repairable, 'betattered' rags told stories—each patch and hole represented repair attempts, so the word carried class meanings: fully 'betattered' clothes marked someone as poor.
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