How Do You Spell TATTERDEMALION?

Pronunciation: [tˌatədɪmˈali͡ən] (IPA)

Tatterdemalion, spelled /tætərˈdɛməljən/, is a rare word that refers to a person wearing tattered clothing or a ragged individual. The word originates from the Middle English language, specifically from the noun 'tatter' meaning torn piece of cloth and the adjective 'malkin' meaning a ragged woman. The word has a unique spelling, with double letters 'tt' and 'll' representing the stress on the syllables 'tat' and 'dem', respectively. The word is often used to describe beggars or hobos in literature and is still used in modern times to describe someone dressed in shabby clothing.

TATTERDEMALION Meaning and Definition

1. Tatterdemalion is an English noun describing an individual who is dressed in worn-out, ragged or tattered clothing. This term can also be used as an adjective to describe something or someone who is in a dilapidated, shabby, or unkempt state. The word itself is a combination of two obsolete English words, "tatter" meaning a torn, hanging shred, and "demalion" meaning a person in rags.

   The term tatterdemalion typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting a person or object that is disheveled, unkempt, or lacking in cleanliness. It often implies a state of extreme poverty or neglect, where the individual or garment is worn beyond repair or decent appearance. This word has historically been used to describe individuals who are destitute, homeless, or neglected, conveying a sense of their impoverished circumstances.

   In a figurative sense, tatterdemalion can be applied to anything that is old, shabby, or in a state of decay. It can describe a building in a state of disrepair, a neglected garden overrun with weeds, or even a disorganized and chaotic environment. Its usage is generally reserved for situations where there is a notable lack of care or maintenance, emphasizing a state of decline or neglect.

   Overall, tatterdemalion is a descriptive term that evokes images of ripped clothing, destitution, and decay, emphasizing a sense of disarray and scruffiness.

2. A ragged dirty fellow; a ragamuffin.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for TATTERDEMALION

• ratterdemalion
• fatterdemalion
• gatterdemalion
• yatterdemalion
• 6atterdemalion
• 5atterdemalion
• tztterdemalion
• tstterdemalion
• twtterdemalion
• tqtterdemalion
• tarterdemalion
• tafterdemalion
• tagterdemalion
• tayterdemalion
• ta6terdemalion
• ta5terdemalion
• tatrerdemalion
• tatferdemalion
• tatgerdemalion
• tatteddemalion
• tatterdemallion
• tatterdemelion
• Tatedemalion
• Tatterdemaline

Etymology of TATTERDEMALION

The word "tatterdemalion" comes from Middle English, specifically from a combination of two words: "tatter" and "demalion".

"Tatter" means a torn or ragged piece of clothing, deriving from the Old Norse word "tata", which means "rag".

"Demalion", on the other hand, is a Middle French word derived from Late Latin. It is ultimately derived from Greek, specifically from the name "Demalion", a character from Greek mythology. In the story of Demalion, he survives a great flood and becomes the ancestor of humanity.

The combination of "tatter" and "demalion" in English resulted in the term "tatterdemalion", which originally referred to a person wearing ragged or torn clothing, often associated with poverty and destitution. Over time, the word has come to describe someone who is unkempt or shabby in appearance.

Plural form of TATTERDEMALION is TATTERDEMALIONS