Rug (?), n. [Cf. Sw. rugg entanglend hair, ruggig rugged, shaggy, probably akin to E. rough. See Rough, a.] 1. A kind of coarse, heavy frieze, formerly used for garments.
They spin the choicest rug in Ireland. A friend of mine... repaired to Paris Garden clad in one of these Waterford rugs. The mastiffs,... deeming he had been a bear, would fain have baited him. Holinshed.
2. A piece of thick, nappy fabric, commonly made of wool, — used for various purposes, as for covering and ornamenting part of a bare floor, for hanging in a doorway as a potière, for protecting a portion of carpet, for a wrap to protect the legs from cold, etc.
3. A rough, woolly, or shaggy dog.
Rug gown, a gown made of rug, of or coarse, shaggy cloth. B. Johnson.