Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
ragman

ragman

1 9.9
A person who goes door to door collecting old clothes to sell
  • noun
  • /ˈræɡmən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : recogedor de trapos
  • The modern-day ragman!

Examples

  • It was the ragman told me about the place.

    Pet Sematary (1989)

  • Hey, ragman.

    Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992)

  • Ragman did for me what I did for you last night.

    Pet Sematary (1989)

  • The World lnquirer, He's a ragman.

    Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992)

  • Mr. Ragman, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.

    Blog text (18)

  • In pure melodramatic form, Fleischman carries the reader along on the trip during which Aaron is given comfort and a ride as far as The Half-A-Moon Inn by the Ragman.

    Academic text (1991)

  • # Aw, the ragman draws circles # # Up and down the block # # I'd ask him what the matter was # # But I know that he don't talk # # And the ladies treat me kindly # # And they furnish me with tape # # But deep inside my heart # # I know I can't escape # # Oh, Mama # # Can this really be the end # # To be stuck inside of Mobile # # With the Memphis blues again?

    I'm Not There (2007)

  • The ragman stopped at each house, collecting old clothes and other discarded items.

  • Every Saturday, the ragman would come around, offering to buy the family's unused textiles.

  • Children in the neighborhood were always excited when the ragman arrived with his colorful cart.

Synonyms

scavenger
vsragman
20 5.5

A person who searches through trash for things to reuse or sell

focuses on visiting homes to collect and sell old clothing and goods
ragpicker
vsragman
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who collects old clothes and scraps from streets to sell

goes door to door selling old clothes and discarded items
junker
vsragman
  • US
1 8.1

A person who collects and fixes old broken things to sell or keep

focuses on buying and selling discarded clothing rather than repairing items
trashman
vsragman
  • US
1 3.3

A person who collects trash and looks for things to use again or sell

often goes house to house selling old clothes rather than emptying bins
junkman
vsragman
  • US
1 5.1

A person who collects old things to sell or throw away

specializes in collecting and selling mainly old clothes and rags door to door
garbo
vsragman
  • Australian
1 9.5

A person who collects rubbish from outside people's houses

is usually an independent seller who collects and sells old clothes door to door
scrapper
vsragman
  • US
4.8

A person who collects and sells scrap metal and old appliances

works mainly with discarded textiles and clothing, not metal scrap
picker-up
vsragman
  • Archaic
7.4

A person who collects litter from places like beaches or parks

travels from house to house buying and selling used clothes and discarded goods

Surface Forms

ragman singular
ragmen plural

Morphology

ragman = rag + man (transparent) = rag + man

Clear agentive compound 'rag' + 'man' meaning a person who collects or deals in rags.

Etymology

The word ragman comes from the parts rag ('old cloth') and man ('person'), so it originally meant a person who worked with rags. Picture someone with a cart going door to door calling for old clothes — that's why ragman means a person who collects and sells old rags and other discarded items.