\Wag\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wagged}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Wagging}.] [OE. waggen; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw.
vagga to rock a cradle, vagga cradle, Icel. vagga, Dan.
vugge; akin to AS. wagian to move, wag, wegan to bear, carry,
G. & D. bewegen to move, and E. weigh. [root]136. See
{Weigh}.]
To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to
and fro; to move vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part
of the body; as, to wag the head.
      No discerner durst wag his tongue in censure. --Shak.
      Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and
      wag his head.                            --Jer. xviii.
                                               16.
Note: Wag expresses specifically the motion of the head and
      body used in buffoonery, mirth, derision, sport, and
      mockery.

\Wag\, v. i.
1. To move one way and the other; to be shaken to and fro; to
   vibrate.
         The resty sieve wagged ne'er the more. --Dryden.
2. To be in action or motion; to move; to get along; to
   progress; to stir. [Colloq.]
         ``Thus we may see,'' quoth he, ``how the world
         wags.''                               --Shak.
3. To go; to depart; to pack oft. [R.]
         I will provoke him to 't, or let him wag. --Shak.

\Wag\, n. [From {Wag}, v.]
1. The act of wagging; a shake; as, a wag of the head.
   [Colloq.]
2. [Perhaps shortened from wag-halter a rogue.] A man full of
   sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit; a
   joker.
         We wink at wags when they offend.     --Dryden.
         A counselor never pleaded without a piece of pack
         thread in his hand, which he used to twist about a
         finger all the while he was speaking; the wags used
         to call it the thread of his discourse. --Addison.