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definitions

bigging

[big-in]
|

noun Scot. and North England.

a building, especially one's home.

Origin of bigging

First recorded in 1200–50, bigging is from the Middle English word biging. See big2, -ing1

big

2

or bigg

[big]

verb (used with object), bigged, big·ging. British Dialect.

to build.

Origin of big

2
1150–1200; Middle English biggen orig., to inhabit < Old Norse byggja to inhabit, cognate with Old English bū(i)an, German bauen

bigg

2
[big]

verb (used with object)

big2.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bigging

Historical Examples of bigging

  • With man and woman, horn and hoof, And bigging for the homestead roof.

  • So some one must be bigging it, or folks would all sing very small.

    Master Skylark

    John Bennett

  • Hanged or drowned, here or awa, dead or alive, I mind the bigging o't.

    The Antiquary, Complete

    Sir Walter Scott

  • The long words are delivered without the slightest bungling; and 'bigging' finished to its last g.

  • The long words are delivered without the slightest bungling; and "bigging" finished to its last g.

British Dictionary definitions for bigging

big

1

adjective bigger or biggest

of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity
having great significance; importanta big decision
important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etcthe big four banks
(intensifier usually qualifying something undesirable)a big dope
informal considerable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way)
  1. eldermy big brother
  2. grown-upwhen you're big, you can stay up later
  1. generous; magnanimousthat's very big of you
  2. (in combination)big-hearted
(often foll by with) brimming; fullmy heart is big with sadness
extravagant; boastfulhe's full of big talk
(of wine) full-bodied, with a strong aroma and flavour
too big for one's boots or too big for one's breeches conceited; unduly self-confident
in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child)
big on informal enthusiastic aboutthat company is big on research

adverb informal

boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big)
in an exceptional way; wellhis talk went over big with the audience
on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big)
See also big up
Derived Formsbiggish, adjectivebigness, noun

Word Origin for big

C13: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect bugge big man

big

2

verb bigs, bigging, bigged or bug (bʌɡ) Scot

to build
to excavate (earth) into a pile

Word Origin for big

from Old Norse byggja; related to Old English būian to inhabit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bigging

big

adj.

c.1300, northern England dialect, "powerful, strong," of obscure origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (cf. Norwegian dialectal bugge "great man"). Old English used micel in many of the same senses. Meaning "of great size" is late 14c.; that of "grown up" is attested from 1550s. Sense of "important" is from 1570s. Meaning "generous" is U.S. colloquial by 1913.

Big band as a musical style is from 1926. Slang big head "conceit" is first recorded 1850. Big business "large commercial firms collectively" is 1905; big house "penitentiary" is U.S. underworld slang first attested 1915 (in London, "a workhouse," 1851). In financial journalism, big ticket items so called from 1956. Big lie is from Hitler's grosse Lüge.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with bigging

big

In addition to the idioms beginning with big

  • big and bold
  • big as life
  • big bucks
  • big cheese
  • big daddy
  • big deal
  • big enchilada
  • big fish in a small pond
  • big head, have a
  • big league
  • big mouth, have a
  • big of one
  • big on
  • big shot
  • big stink
  • big time
  • big top
  • big wheel

also see:

  • go over big
  • great (big) guns
  • hit it big
  • in a big way
  • little frog in a big pond
  • make a federal case (big deal)
  • talk big
  • think big
  • too big for one's breeches
  • what's the (big) idea

Also see underbigger.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.