Dregs

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "dregs" means the last little bit left at the bottom - whether that’s coffee, soda, chip crumbs, or even the worst people in a crowd.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You know that chunky dust at the bottom corner of the chip bag? That's the 'dregs', and it's my favorite part.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You know that chunky dust at the bottom corner of the chip bag? That's the 'dregs', and it's my favorite part.

Pronunciation

[DREGZ]
/drɛɡz/

Meaning & Usage

- Leftover bits at the bottom (noun)

Mae:

All that’s left is the dregs of the coffee pot.

Earl:

Pour it out, we’ll make a fresh batch.

- The lowest-quality part or people (noun)

Mae:

They hired the dregs for that work crew.

Earl:

Ain’t no wonder the job’s half-done.

variations: leftovers, remnants, sediment, scraps, bottom-of-the-bag

★ "Dregs" can mean what’s left at the bottom - or the bottom rung of quality. Locals use it both ways, serious or joking. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse dregg meaning sediment or lees in liquid. Appalachia and the South extended it to mean any last scraps or lowest-quality part of something.

Usage Notes

Still common in casual Southern and Appalachian speech. Often used for food or drink leftovers, but also for people, work crews, or situations at their worst.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "dregs" only mean liquid sediment?

No - in Southern and Appalachian speech, it’s the last little scraps of anything.

Is "dregs" unique to Appalachia?

No, but the broad everyday use (chips, crumbs, leftovers) is especially common there.

Can "dregs" describe people?

Yes - often used for the lowest-quality part of a group, like "the dregs of society."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 17). Dregs. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dregs
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Dregs." HillbillySlang.com, 17 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dregs.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Dregs." HillbillySlang.com. November 17, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/dregs.