A sudden sharp or jagged projection on something, or a wild spree of activity (like going on a crying jag).
From Scottish and Northern English dialect, possibly from Old Norse or Scandinavian roots. The word shifted from meaning a sharp point to meaning a period or bout of something, like 'a jag of drinking.'
When someone goes on a 'crying jag,' they're not just crying—they're experiencing an uncontrollable burst, almost like their emotions are taking sharp, jutting turns. The word captures the idea that intense experiences come in jagged, unpredictable patterns.
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