KayleeSaeihr Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Why is cross-dressing called dressing in drag? What's dragging? I don't get it. Link to post Share on other sites
Fi_Loubet Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 From wikipedia: A folk etymology whose acronym basis reveals the late 20th-century bias, would make "drag" an abbreviation of "dressed as girl" in description of male transvestism. The other, "drab" for "dressed as boy," is unrecorded. Drag is practiced by people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. But it also claims that drag is slang for any clothing. Link to post Share on other sites
KayleeSaeihr Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Hmmm interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
Jibun Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Hmm, good question. According to wikipedia, the term, "drag" apparently originally referred to any clothing one can wear, despite the fact it's usually used to refer to crossdressing. With that in mind, I suppose "drag" could give the impression of robes dragging across the floor or something. This is merely speculation on my behalf though. *wants a better answer* Link to post Share on other sites
borrowedTime Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Elsewhere, wikipedia suggests that it was derived from the Romani "indraka" (meaning 'skirt'). I wonder whether there's any connection with the German "tragen" (one of its meanings being 'to wear'). Link to post Share on other sites
Fi_Loubet Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Looks like Wikipedia can't make up its mind! Link to post Share on other sites
endplusone Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Haha, sorry. I'm not adding anything constructive. I really don't know how dressing in drag and drag racing go together. Link to post Share on other sites
AVENCakes Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I've also heard it was short for Dressed As a Girl. Agan, on wikipedia. Yeah, they can't make up their mind. I really don't know how dressing in drag and drag racing go together. You get delightful puns of a bunch of men in heels hitching up their skirts and racing each other. Link to post Share on other sites
Fi_Loubet Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 You get delightful puns of a bunch of men in heels hitching up their skirts and racing each other. What an image! I also imagined a couple of tough bikers in evening gowns racing each other on their bikes. Link to post Share on other sites
ChildOfTheLight Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I've also heard it was short for Dressed As a Girl. Agan, on wikipedia. Yeah, they can't make up their mind. That's almost certainly a myth -- there aren't any words that are actually acronyms from before WWII or so. Link to post Share on other sites
daveb Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I've also heard it was short for Dressed As a Girl. Agan, on wikipedia. Yeah, they can't make up their mind. That's almost certainly a myth -- there aren't any words that are actually acronyms from before WWII or so. Yeah, that's just a silly "folk etymology". Doesn't even make a lot of sense when you think about it. It would mean most women dress in drag most of the time! :lol: Link to post Share on other sites
mad_scientist Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I've also heard it was short for Dressed As a Girl. Agan, on wikipedia. Yeah, they can't make up their mind. That's almost certainly a myth -- there aren't any words that are actually acronyms from before WWII or so. Yeah, that's just a silly "folk etymology". Doesn't even make a lot of sense when you think about it. It would mean most women dress in drag most of the time! :lol: I thought it was used for scripts and suchlike? Link to post Share on other sites
sakura_alice Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 You get delightful puns of a bunch of men in heels hitching up their skirts and racing each other. What an image! I also imagined a couple of tough bikers in evening gowns racing each other on their bikes. "drag race" commercial omg, you guys have totally reminded me of this commercial! Link to post Share on other sites
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