Wag, n. [From Wag, v.]
1. The act of wagging; a shake; as, a wag of the head.
2. [Perhaps shortened from wag-halter a rogue.] A man full of sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit; a joker.
We wink at wags when they offend. Dryden.
A counselor never pleaded without a piece of pack thread in his hand, which he used to twist about a finger all the while he was speaking; the wags used to call it the thread of his discourse. Addison.