A toe rag was originally a foot wrapping used, since mediaeval times up until the
mid-nineteenth century, to protect the foot from chafing by
boots or shoes. As these were, quite literally, rags they weren’
t usually washed, and so with use they became very smelly until they were thrown away. Because of the similarity in smell, toe rag also became the name applied to dried, salted
cod or other things with a strong, unpleasant, fishy smell. It didn’t take that
long before the name was applied to someone who was an obnoxious, unpleasant OIC.
1 “Socks! Those aren’t socks you smelly git, they’re
toe rags!”
2 “What have you been
cooking? Smells like
toe rag!”
3 “I can smell ‘er fanny from ‘ere, proper toe rag.”
4 That Heale Malcolm is a right toe rag.