The term "ragamuffin" is an old-fashioned slang phrase that means a person who appears disheveled, dirty or unkempt. It can also refer to someone who looks like they have just gotten out of bed and hasn't bothered to fix their appearance yet. The word has its origins in the 17th century English nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle," which includes a line about a cat playing with a fiddle while a dog howls at the moon, surrounded by mice who are wearing ragged clothing and looking disheveled. Over time, the term has come to be used more broadly as an adjective to describe someone or something that appears messy, unkempt or shabby.