wag (2) — ONAD

wag2 /waɡ, wæɡ

▸ noun

1 a person who makes jokes; a joker:

one wag shouted, ‘On that count you've got about three supporters!’.

2 Australian New Zealand informal a person who plays truant:

Boogie plays the wag from school.

▸ verb

(wags, wagging, wagged)

[with object] Australian New Zealand informal play truant from (school).

– ORIGIN mid 16th century (denoting a young man or mischievous boy, also used as a term of endearment to an infant): probably from obsolete waghalter ‘person likely to be hanged’ (see wag1, halter).