DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

jig

1
[ jig ]
/ dʒɪg /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR jig ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

1
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

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

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

2
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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

verb jigs, jigging or jigged

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