Drabbletail

/ˈdræbəltɛɪl/ noun

Definition

A slattern or untidy woman; historically, a derogatory term for someone, especially a woman, who is slovenly or unkempt.

Etymology

Compound of 'drabble' (to make muddy or wet) plus 'tail' (a derogatory suffix for a person, as in 'petticoat'). The image is of a woman whose skirts are muddied and draggled, suggesting slovenliness.

Kelly Says

Drabbletail is a perfectly preserved insult from when women's clothing could be read as a moral judgment—a muddy hemline didn't just look bad, it suggested laziness and low character.

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