draggle-tail

The official parade formed up once again into what Quincy Adams called a “draggle-tail procession thinned in numbers,” and the president and first lady were escorted back to the White House, where they greeted visitors through much of the afternoon.

A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

The official parade formed up once again into what Quincy Adams called a “draggle-tail procession thinned in numbers,” and the president and first lady were escorted back to the White House, where they greeted visitors through much of the afternoon.

A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

The preacher, instead of vexing the ears of drowsy farmers on their day of rest at the end of the week — for Sunday is the fit conclusion of an ill-spent week, and not the fresh and brave beginning of a new one — with this one other draggle-tail of a sermon, should shout with thundering voice,

Walden 2004

Samuval was nothing but a draggle-tail mercenary leading his own company of archers.

Dragons Of A Lost Star Weis, Margaret 2001

The brief flash of amusement faded from Simon's face and he looked draggle-tail weary.

Sagittarius Whorl May, Julian 2001

She saw close to the wall some few yards away a somewhat draggle-tail figure in cloak and hood.

Madame Flirt A Romance of 'The Beggar's Opera' Charles Edward Pearce

Owners Ship, the Merchants Goods, and his own life, for an inconstant draggle-tail; that perhaps before he has been three daies at Sea, hath drawn her affection from him, and given promise to another?

The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple A. Marsh

It was her pet hobby to take some neglected little draggle-tail from the workhouse and to turn her into an efficient maid-of-all-work.

Recollections With Photogravure Portrait of the Author and a number of Original Letters, of which one by George Meredith and another by Robert Louis Stevenson are reproduced in facsimile David Christie Murray

In fact he said as much to Lord Lisburn at one of the Academy dinners: "I cannot afford to court the draggle-tail muses, my Lord; they would let me starve; but by my other labours I can make shift to eat, and drink, and have good clothes."

Goldsmith English Men of Letters Series William Black 1869

What Goldsmith got from Griffin for the poem is not accurately known; and this is a misfortune, for the knowledge would have enabled us to judge whether at that time it was possible for a poet to court the draggle-tail muses without risk of starvation.

Goldsmith English Men of Letters Series William Black 1869