jig

[ jig ]

/ dʒɪg /

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noun

Machinery. a plate, box, or open frame for holding work and for guiding a machine tool to the work, used especially for locating and spacing drilled holes; fixture.

Angling. any of several devices or lures, especially a hook or gang of hooks weighted with metal and dressed with hair, feathers, etc., for jerking up and down in or drawing through the water to attract fish.

Mining. an apparatus for washing coal or separating ore from gangue by shaking and washing.

a cloth-dyeing machine in which the material, guided by rollers, is passed at full width through a dye solution in an open vat.

verb (used with object), jigged, jig·ging.

to treat, cut, produce, etc., with a jig.

verb (used without object), jigged, jig·ging.

to use a jig.

to fish with a jig.

Words related to jig

stratagem, sleight, catch, jest, artifice, gimmick, sport, feat, caper, deception, jape, ploy, device, lark, shenanigan, frolic, imposture, dodge, maneuver, feint

Words nearby jig

jictar, jidda, jiddah, jiffy, jiffy bag, jig, jig back, jig is up, jigaboo, jigawa, jigger

Origin of jig

1855–60; probably akin to jig², in sense “jerk to and fro”; orig. and interrelationship of this group of words uncertain

Definition for jig (2 of 4)

jig²

[ jig ]

/ dʒɪg /

noun

a rapid, lively, springy, irregular dance for one or more persons, usually in triple meter.

a piece of music for or in the rhythm of such a dance.

Obsolete. prank; trick.

verb (used with object), jigged, jig·ging.

to dance (a jig or any lively dance).

to sing or play in the time or rhythm of a jig: to jig a tune.

to move with a jerky or bobbing motion; jerk up and down or to and fro.

verb (used without object), jigged, jig·ging.

to dance or play a jig.

to move with a quick, jerky motion; hop; bob.

Origin of jig

1550–60; in earliest sense “kind of dance” perhaps < Middle French giguer to frolic, gambol, probably < an unattested WGmc verb (cf. gig¹); semantic development of other senses unclear

OTHER WORDS FROM jig

jig·like, jig·gish, adjective

Definition for jig (3 of 4)

jig³

[ jig ]

/ dʒɪg /

noun

(formerly used in communications to represent the letter J.)

Definition for jig (4 of 4)

jig⁴

[ jig ]

/ dʒɪg /

noun Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.

Origin of jig

⁴

1920–25, Americanism; of uncertain origin; cf. jigaboo

Examples from the Web for jig

"Divil a-man in the five parishes can dance 'Jig Polthogue' wid him, for all that," said Barny.
The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh|William Carleton
A notable 'jig' was that called 'Schanke's Ordinary,' in which several performers took part.
South London|Sir Walter Besant
"I don't know how to 'jig,' but it's delightful to look on," she answered merrily.
What Katy Did Next|Susan Coolidge

British Dictionary definitions for jig

jig

/ (dʒɪɡ) /

noun

any of several old rustic kicking and leaping dances

a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually in six-eight time

a mechanical device designed to hold and locate a component during machining and to guide the cutting tool

angling any of various spinning lures that wobble when drawn through the water

Also called: jigger mining a device for separating ore or coal from waste material by agitation in water

obsolete a joke or prank

verb jigs, jigging or jigged

to dance (a jig)

to jerk or cause to jerk up and down rapidly

(often foll by up) to fit or be fitted in a jig

(tr) to drill or cut (a workpiece) in a jig

mining to separate ore or coal from waste material using a jig

(intr) to produce or manufacture a jig

Australian slang to play truant from school

Word Origin for jig

C16 (originally: a dance or the music for it; applied to various modern devices because of the verbal sense: to jerk up and down rapidly): of unknown origin

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