tog

verb

ˈtäg How to pronounce tog (audio)
ˈtȯg
togged; togging

transitive verb

: to dress especially in fine clothing
usually used with up or out

Did you know?

Tog Began as Slang

The history of tog is a true rags-to-riches tale that begins with the slang of vagabonds and thieves—specifically, with the noun togeman, an old (and now obsolete) slang word meaning "cloak." By the early 18th century, the noun tog, a shortened form of togeman, was being used as a slang word for "coat," and before the century's end the plural form togs was being used to mean "clothing." The verb tog debuted shortly after togs and was immediately in style as a word for dressing up. You may be wondering if there's a connection between tog and toga, and if so, you are right on track. Togeman is believed to be derived in part from toga, which means "cloak" or "mantle" in Latin.

Examples of tog in a Sentence

togged out in obviously brand-new hiking garb, she was quite a sight
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Reds were first togged out by New Balance for the 2015/16 season, following the American sportswear company's takeover of Warrior Sports (remember them?) and have produced Liverpool's clobber for the last five seasons. SI.com, 29 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

togs

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tog was circa 1785

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near tog

Cite this Entry

“Tog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tog. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!