lag

noun11

1. •
   A gap, a delay; an interval created by something not keeping up; a latency.

   • During the Second World War, for instance, the Washington Senators had a starting rotation that included four knuckleball pitchers. But, still, I think that some of that was just a generational lag. — 2004
2. •
   Delay; latency.

   • Whatever the symptom, lag is a drag. But what causes it? One cause is delays in getting the data from your PC to the game server. — 1999
3. •
   (UK, slang) A prisoner, a criminal.

   • On both these occasions I had ended up behind the bars, and you might suppose that an old lag like myself would have been getting used to it by now. — 1934
4. •
   (slang) A period of imprisonment.

   • I wasn't scared any more; the second lag wasn't easy, but I wasn't really scared of anything. […] So in my later lags, when I walked into prison everyone had heard about me. — 2017
5. •
   One who lags; that which comes in last.
6. •
   (US) Clipping of lag screw.
7. •
   A method of deciding which player is to start. Both players simultaneously strike a cue ball from the baulk line to hit the top cushion and rebound down the table; the player whose ball finishes closest to the baulk cushion wins.
8. •
   A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (engineering) one of the narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object, such as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or steam engine.
9. •
   A bird, the greylag.
10. •
    The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class.

    • The rest of your Fees, O Gods, the Senators of Athens, together with the common lagge of People, what is amisse in them, you Gods, make suteable for destruction. — 1605
11. •
    (slang, no longer used) One sentenced to transportation for a crime.

verb6

1. •
   To fail to keep up (the pace), to fall behind.

   • Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, / That lasie seemd in being ever last, / Or wearied with bearing of her bag / Of needments at his backe. — 1590
2. •
   (informal) To respond slowly.

   • My phone is starting to lag.
3. •
   To cover (for example, pipes) with felt strips or similar material.

   • Spun glass mattresses are used for lagging the boiler, which has three Ross pop safety valves on the front ring. — 1941
4. •
   To slacken

   • Interest in the scandal will never lag.
5. •
   (slang) To arrest or apprehend.

   • If a fellow gave them trouble being lagged they let him have it hot and heavy in the bridewell. — 1922
6. •
   (slang, no longer used) To transport as a punishment for crime.

   • She lags us if we poach. — 1847

adjective3

1. •
   Late.

   • Some tardy cripple bore the countermand, / That came too lag to see him buried. — 1592
2. •
   Last made; hence, made of refuse; inferior.

   • We know your thoughts of us, that laymen are lag souls, and rubbish of remaining clay. — 1690
3. •
   (no longer used) Last; long-delayed.

adjective1

1. •
   Loose (inclined to play many starting hands, including weak ones) and aggressive (inclined to raise often).