Jaggedy

In Southern and Appalachian speech, jaggedy means rough-edged, uneven, or irregular. It’s a Southern variant of "jagged," used for describing sharp or uneven edges, textures, or sounds.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: rough, uneven, ragged, serrated, splintered

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If it's 'jaggedy,' it's probably gonna hurt if you touch it. I've heard this one all my life, it's common.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If it's 'jaggedy,' it's probably gonna hurt if you touch it. I've heard this one all my life, it's common.

Pronunciation

[JAG-uh-dee]
/ˈdʒæɡ.ə.di/

Meaning & Usage

- Having a rough or uneven edge (adjective)

Harlan:

Don’t grab that tin - it’s all jaggedy.

Lula:

Yeah, I done cut my hand on it once already.

- Figurative roughness or harshness (adjective)

Opal:

He’s got that jaggedy laugh - sounds like a busted chainsaw.

Clem:

Ain’t no mistakin’ him when he’s around.

variations: jaggity, jagged-ie

★ You’ll hear jaggedy in the mountains and small towns more than in the city. It carries a touch of that down-home descriptiveness - plain talk that paints a clear picture. ★

Origin and Etymology

Jaggedy developed in Southern and South Midland dialects as an extended form of "jagged," probably influenced by the older noun "jag" meaning a sharp point or rough edge. The -y ending adds an expressive, rhythmic touch typical of Appalachian English. Early examples appear in Southern folk speech and regional literature from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Usage Notes

The word jaggedy is still heard across the Southern highlands, though it’s rare in formal writing. It describes anything physically or figuratively rough or uneven.

Common in Appalachian and Ozark speech.
Usually means "rough-edged" or "splintered," but may describe voices, laughter, or emotion.
Appears occasionally in dialect writing and regional storytelling.
Recognized as Southern, though understood by most English speakers.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "jaggedy" a real word?

Yes. It’s a regional Southern and Appalachian variant of "jagged."

Is it used outside the South?

Rarely. It’s strongly identified with Southern and rural American English.

Does it always describe shape?

No - it can describe sound or feeling that’s rough or uneven.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 2). Jaggedy. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jaggedy
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Jaggedy." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jaggedy.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Jaggedy." HillbillySlang.com. December 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jaggedy.