Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pertaining to female impersonation (not invariably by homosexuals), usu. in a theatrical / show business context.

1887		Referee 24 July in Ware (1909) 117/1: Mrs Sheppard is now played by a man – Mr Charles Steyne, to wit. I don’t like to see low coms. in drag parts, but must confess that Mr Steyne is really droll, without being at all vulgar.
1950		K. Williams Diaries 4 May 52: Saw queer drag show at the Royal. It was gay.
1961		K. Williams Diaries 28 Feb. 170: Put my foot down about the drag sketch, and we stood about, doing nothing.
1964		H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn 40: Ripping and tearing Georgettes drag clothes, her lovely dresses and silks.
1972		P. Fordham Inside the Und. 81: The police [...] prefer drag haunts as meeting-places for contacts.
1977		G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 18: Occasional entertainment was put on, usually strippers or an off-key singer — once a drag act.
1980		T. McClenaghan Submariners I i: He goes into a routine to the music. All very clownish, but not at all draggy or camp.
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 204: Hadnt you noticed that they all call Del Rio by his drag name, Dolores.
1996		(con. 1964-65) B. Thorpe Sex and Thugs and Rock ’n’ Roll 13: Les Girls was a drag club.
1999		Guardian G2 23 Sept. 3: One of the club’s original drag acts.
1999		Observer Mag. 4 July 8: One daft rumour had Cruise appearing in the film in a frock at a London drag club (untrue).
2001		N. Tosches Where Dead Voices Gather (ms.) 308: Though actual females in blackface were rare, drag acts were a common feature since the early days of minstrelsy.
2010		IRIN (S. Afr.) 8 Apr. 🌐 Transvestites are still known for putting on drag shows in their local communities.