dreg etymology

Etymology

The word "dreg" comes from the Middle English word "dregges," which is derived from the Old Norse word "dregg," meaning "dregs" or "sediment."

Meaning

  • The residue or sediment that settles at the bottom of a liquid, especially a liquid that has been fermented or brewed.
  • The worthless or inferior part of something.
  • A person or thing that is considered worthless or contemptible.

Origin

The word "dreg" is believed to have originated in the Scandinavian languages, where it was used to refer to the sediment that formed at the bottom of barrels of beer or ale. This sediment was often considered worthless and was typically discarded.

Over time, the word "dreg" came to be used more generally to refer to any type of worthless or inferior part or element. It is now commonly used in a figurative sense to describe people or things that are considered undesirable or contemptible.

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