noun
- dregs, the sediment of liquids; lees; grounds.
- Usually dregs. the least valuable part of anything: the dregs of society.
- a small remnant; any small quantity.
pl n
- solid particles that tend to settle at the bottom of some liquids, such as wine or coffee
- residue or remains
- British slang a despicable person
noun
- a small quantitynot a dreg of pity See also dregs
c.1300 (implied in surname Dryngedregges), from Old Norse dregg “sediment,” from Proto-Germanic *drag- (cf. Old High German trestir, German Trester “grapeskins, husks”), from PIE *dher- (1) “to make muddy.” Replaced Old English cognate dræst, dærst “dregs, lees.” Figurative use is from 1530s.
see dregs.