Definition

A person who earns money by collecting and selling rags and other discarded materials.

Example

The ragpicker searched through the piles of trash for anything valuable.

Conversation

Have you ever met a ragpicker before?

No, I haven't. What do they do exactly?

They collect old clothes and other items to sell them for a living.

That sounds interesting! I never knew that was a job.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ragpicker is formed from "rag" (from Old English *ræg*, meaning a piece of cloth or torn fabric) and "picker" (from the verb "pick", meaning to gather or collect). The word describes a person who collects rags or scraps of cloth, often for reuse or recycling.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'gathers' ('picker') 'pieces of cloth' ('rag') — that's why a ragpicker is someone who collects rags.

Visually Confused Words