sag

Etymology 1

From late Middle English saggen, probably of North Germanic/Scandinavian/Old Norse origin, akin to Old Norse sokkva (“to sink”), from a denasalized derivative of Proto-Germanic *sinkwaną (“to sink”). Compare Norwegian Nynorsk sagga (“move slowly”)); probably akin to Danish and Norwegian sakke, Swedish sacka, Icelandic sakka. Compare also Dutch zakken and German sacken (from Low German).

noun

1. The state of sinking or bending; a droop.
2. The difference in elevation of a wire, cable, chain or rope suspended between two consecutive points.
3. The difference in height or depth between the vertex and the rim of a curved surface, specifically used for optical elements such as a mirror or lens.

verb

1. To sink, in the middle, by its weight or under applied pressure, below a horizontal line or plane.
   A line or cable supported by its ends sags, even if it is tightly drawn.
   The floor of a room sags.
   Her once firm bosom began to sag in her thirties.
2. (by extension) To lean, give way, or settle from a vertical position.
   A building may sag one way or another.
   The door sags on its hinges.
3. (figurative) To lose firmness, elasticity, vigor, or a thriving state; to sink; to droop; to flag; to bend; to yield, as the mind or spirits, under the pressure of care, trouble, doubt, or the like; to be unsettled or unbalanced.
4. To loiter in walking; to idle along; to drag or droop heavily.
5. (transitive) To cause to bend or give way; to load.
6. (informal) To wear one's trousers so that their top is well below the waist.
7. (informal, Canada) To pull down someone else's pants.

Etymology 2

noun

1. Alternative form of saag
   The dal tarka (£5) is made from whole yellow split peas, while sag aloo (£5) brings potatoes in a rich and oily spinach puree. 2003, Charles Campion, The Rough Guide to London Restaurants, page 173