n. [ Tatter + OF. desmaillier to break the meshes of, to tear: cf. OF. maillon long clothes, swadding clothes, F. maillot. See Tatter, and Mail armor. ] A ragged fellow; a ragamuffin. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]
(adj) worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing, Syn. tatterdemalion, Example:a man in a tattered shirt; the tattered flag; tied up in tattered brown paper; a tattered barefoot boy; a tatterdemalion prince