CableDoc's definitions

Ragamuffin

In the 1980s, however, particularly in West London and Brixton, the word took on a new meaning, that of a dangerous, disaffected, black teenage or young adult male. Ragamuffins or 'Raggas' prided themselves on violently attacking white males, often with knives, frequently on the grounds of fictitious claims of racism. Ragamuffins typically dressed in hooded tops, jeans and Nike or Adidas trainers, and listened to electro and early hip hop music.

Raggamuffin (with two Gs) is also a Jamaican term and has been used in Jamaica both to describe individuals and a style of music. More recently the term has entered the mainstream, meaning a particular style of dancehall music which has its roots in Jamaica (see Ms. Dynamite, Shaggy).

The ragamuffin said "I chased dat chalky down de street and ragged him"

by CableDoc April 2, 2008