Men in drag

[Unionjack]

Why are men dressed as women known as being "in drag"? What is the origin of this?

[Drusilla1S]

I think it's an old Elizabethan theatre term for actors who 'Dressed As Girl' because females were not allowed to perform on stage until King Charles II day.

[Quizmonster]

In 18th century slang one meaning of a �drag' was the train of a woman's dress, based on the idea that it acted as a brake on her movement, in the same way as the �drag' or brake on a coach. That reference to female attire made the connection with male cross-dressing. By the late 19th century, going �on the drag' or being �in drag' meant men wearing women's clothing in order to solicit other men. More recently still, it has come to mean a performer - or �drag artiste' - generally a comedian, who does this in order to entertain.