/ fæg; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) = cigarette
2.
(also fag·got ) [ C ] ( NAmE , taboo , slang ) an offensive word for a male homosexual
3.
[ sing. ] ( BrE , informal ) something that is boring and tiring to do :
It's too much of a fag to go out.
4.
[ C ] ( BrE ) (especially in the past) a boy at a public school who has to do jobs for an older boy
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 3 to 4 mid 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense grow weary ): of unknown origin. Compare with flag in the verb sense to become tired .
sense 2 1920s: short for faggot homosexual
sense 1 late 19th cent.: elliptically from fag end .