Dirtbag
/ˈdɝːtˌbæɡ/noun
A contemptible or unpleasant person.
Did you know?Unlike ancient occult terms, this insult is a relatively recent American compound, but it became a powerful social curse because it fuses something filthy with something that carries and contains it.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
dīort
“earth, soil; loose matter from the ground”
Old English
OE
bæg
“bag, pouch, sack”
Late 19th Century
English
dirt bag
“a bag containing dirt or filth; literal compound”
Mid-20th Century
English
dirtbag
“a contemptible person; an insulting slang term”
Modern English
English
dirtbag
“an offensive term for a sleazy, mean, or worthless person”