Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US, also snoot-rag) used derog., a newspaper.

1871		Warrenton banner (MI) 18 Apr. 3/2: The ‘Chronicale’ reminds one [...] of the boy who got thrashed [...] and each time he remarked: ‘You cannot do it again.’ So with the ‘snot-rag’ when we deny [...] and demand the proof. It never comes but instead [...] ‘let the Banner deny it again’.
1873		Democrat & Chron. (Rochester, NY) 6 May 2/3: The St Louis election [...] resulted in [...] lilliputian back-woods newspaperial snoot-rags inflaming head lines of mis-spelled jackassery.
1881		Alma News (KS) 12 Aug. 3/2: Fairfield made a statement in this office [...] and in a few days the same statement appeared in his ‘snot-rag’ which leads us to believe he wrote the letter signed ‘Inquirer’.
1888		Miami Republican (Paol, KS) 6 July 2/3: The Democratic party has grabbed [...] free trade and the red snot rag [...] one as banner and the other as the platform.

2. a handkerchief; a paper tissue.

1888		F. Remington letter in Splete Sel. Letters (1988) 48: He owned a red snot-rag.
1907		J.W. Carr ‘Word-List from Hampstead, N.H.’ in DN III iii 200: snot-rag, n. Handkerchief. ‘I never saw such a dirty old snot-rag in all my born days.’.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 16: He emptied his pockets on the table. — There’s your snotrag, he said.
1928		M. Bodenheim Georgie May 88: Why, they wouldn’ use either one uh you for a snot-rag where I come from!
1943		‘Henry Green’ Caught (2001) 169: For pity’s sake blow your nose, lad [...] and if you’ve no snot rag use your fist, again.
1951		D. Dressler Parole Chief 251: I wouldn’t go for no five-buck snotrag.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 80: Let’s give you a bit of a mop-down with a clean snot-rag.
1978		S. King Stand (1990) 29: He had to scramble his snotrag out of his back pocket to catch a big wet sneeze.
1983		A. Payne ‘Willesden Suite’ Minder [TV script] 35: Amongst the string, old snotrags and fag ends.
1985		‘Thommo’ Dict. Aus. Swearing & Sex Sayings 123: SNOT RAG — Handkerchief, or any piece of rag or tissue.
1990		R.G. Barratt ‘Public Dis-Service’ in What Do You Reckon (1997) [ebook] [I] had to run behind the truck in my stubbies with a snot-rag jammed on my head.
1992		R. Price Clockers 9: Thumper was already in his pockets, shaking out the snotrag.
1997		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 7: snotrag – tissue.
2005		A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 119: Rooies cut him his own special snotrag.
2012		(con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 152: Elaine [...] dabs at her eyes with a snot-rag.