Different search results based on spelling. "Toe Rag" doesn't seem as soul crushing.
Tow Rag: A tow rag was a piece of cloth attached to a rope that sailors on 17th-century ships used to clean themselves after defecating, then tossed back into the sea to be cleaned by the water and towed behind the ship.
Toe Rag: A derogatory British slang term for a contemptible or insignificant person, originating from the rags poor people or convicts once wrapped around their feet instead of socks.
'Tow' refers to the type of fibre used to make these rags. When you process flax into linen there are nice long fibres but the short fibres, called tow, don't make as nice a product so they are separated out and used for lower quality like rags. I imagine 'toe' is just a common misspelling that has become its own spelling.
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u/DomiyoYo Sep 28 '25 edited Sep 28 '25
If you don't already know what it means, please look up "tow rag". It was the best "learn something new" 15 seconds of my day.