Meaning
Ragged, worn-out, and shabby — used of clothes, hair, or things fallen into a tattered, unkempt state. 'Ratty clothes' are torn and threadbare, and 'ratty hair' is matted and neglected, gone to seed. Close in feel to 'mash-up' and 'ben-up', the word names the shabby, run-down condition of anything worn past its best or badly cared for, and it carries a note of disapproval or pity for the tattered and the down-at-heel, whether a garment, a head of hair, or a whole rundown appearance.
Examples
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Him a wear ratty ole clothes.
He's wearing ragged old clothes.
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Di sofa get ratty an tear up.
The sofa got shabby and torn up.
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Comb dat ratty hair.
Comb that matted hair.
Origin
From 'rat'/'ratty' (worn, gnawed-looking); shabby and tattered.
How it’s used
Ragged/worn-out/shabby. Compare 'mash-up', 'ben-up', 'cruff'.