[shag] n [(assumed) ME shagge, fr. OE sceacga; akin to ON skegg beard, skaga to project] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a shaggy tangled mass or covering (as of hair) b: long coarse or matted fiber, nap, or pile
2: tobacco cut into fine shreds
3: cormorant 1
[2]shag adj (1592): shaggy [3]shag vb shagged ; shag.ging vi (1596): to fall or hang in shaggy masses ~ vt: to make rough or shaggy [4]shag vt shagged ; shag.ging [origin unknown] (1904) 1 a: to chase after; esp: to chase after and return (a ball) hit usu. out of play b: to catch (a fly) in baseball practice
2: to chase away [5]shag vi shagged ; shag.ging [perh. alter. of shack to lumber along] (1914) 1: to move or lope along
2: to dance the shag [6]shag n (1932): a dance step executed by hopping livelily on each foot in turn