ragbag

Ragbag is a noun meaning a heterogeneous collection of items or a jumble of things, often used metaphorically to describe a mixture of diverse components, such as ideas, articles, or characters. In everyday language one might speak of a ragbag of responses or a ragbag of toys, underscoring their incongruity or variety.

Etymology and history: The term originates from a bag used to collect scraps or rags for resale or recycling. The phrase was adopted metaphorically to denote a random assortment of items, ideas, or people. It has been in use since at least the late 19th or early 20th century in English-language writing.

Usage: Ragbag is somewhat literary or informal and can carry a slightly humorous or informal tone. It tends to emphasize variety and lack of cohesion, rather than quality. Common alternatives include miscellany, hodgepodge, potpourri, or grab bag. The expression ragbag is often used with nouns such as “ragbag collection” or “ragbag of ideas.”

See also: hodgepodge, miscellany, grab bag, potpourri.