Words & TermsCrime, prison and the underworld
lag
Also: old lag
A prisoner or former prisoner, especially one serving or having served a long sentence; historically, a transported convict.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “lag” means a prisoner or former prisoner, especially one serving or having served a long sentence; historically, a transported convict.
Where it came from
Vaux supplies the early Australian-context attestation; later Australian newspapers document continued common prison-language use.
- Initial era
- 1800–1849
- Where used
- Australia; also British prison slang