This unusual word refers to a person dressed in worn-out, ragged clothes. Sometimes that’s a fashion choice, and other times it’s a necessity. You wouldn’t want to paint a room or do gardening chores dressed in your finest attire, after all. It makes sense to be a tatterdemalion when you don’t want to ruin good clothing. The word “tatter” comes from the Old Norse “töturr,” meaning “tatter, rag,” and “-demalion” is a combining form of unknown origin.