drug

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "drug" is the nonstandard past tense of "drag." It’s a hallmark regional form that turns up in everyday talk, storytelling, and even court transcripts.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

We all day 'drug' around here, it's a normal part of conversation (because we're always havin' to drag somethin').

Pronunciation

[DRUHG]

Meaning & Usage

- Past tense of "drag" (dialect verb form)

Mae:

How’d you get that couch out?

Earl:

I drug it out by myself.

other spellings: dragged (standard form)

★ "Drug" as the past tense of "drag" survives strongly in Southern/Appalachian English. It follows the same pattern as "brung" (for "brought") and "knowed" (for "knew"), showing how dialect speech preserves older or analogical verb forms. ★

Origin

"Drug" was once widely used in older English as a past tense of "drag" (analogous to "dig/dug"). Over time, "dragged" became standard, but "drug" persisted in regional speech. Recorded in Appalachian dialect studies and the Dictionary of American Regional English.

Notes

Still common in rural Southern and Appalachian speech. Recognized nationwide but often marked as informal or dialectal.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "drug" - rhymes with "hug."

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Is "drug" only a noun for medicine?

In standard English, yes, but in Southern/Appalachian speech "drug" also serves as the past tense of "drag."

Where do you hear it?

Throughout the South, Appalachia, and in some Midwestern rural areas.

Is it accepted in formal writing?

No - it’s a dialect feature, mainly used in speech or to convey local color in writing.