rag·a·muf·fin or rag·ga·muf·fin (răg'ə-mŭf'ĭn)
n.
A shabbily clothed, dirty child.

[Middle English Ragamuffyn, a personal name : probably raggi, ragged (from ragge, rag; see rag¹) + Middle Dutch moffel, muffe, mitten; see muff².]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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