jigger

[ jig-er ]

/ ˈdʒɪg ər /

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See synonyms for: jigger / jiggered / jiggering on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that jigs.

Nautical.

the lowermost sail set on a jiggermast.
jiggermast.
a light tackle, as a gun tackle.

any of various mechanical devices, many of which have a jerky or jolting motion.

Informal. some contrivance, article, or part that one cannot or does not name more precisely: What is that little jigger on the pistol?

Ceramics. a machine for forming plates or the like in a plaster mold rotating beneath a template.

Mining. a jig for separating ore.

a jig for fishing.

Golf. a club with an iron head intermediate between a mashie and a midiron, now rarely used.

Billiards, Pool. a bridge.

a 1½-oz. (45-milliliter) measure used in cocktail recipes.
a small whiskey glass holding 1½ ounces (45 milliliters).

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Origin of jigger

First recorded in 1665–75; of unknown origin; perhaps from jig¹ or jig² + -er¹

Words nearby jigger

Jiffy bag, jig, jigaboo, Jigawa, jig back, jigger, jiggered, jiggermast, jiggers, jiggery-pokery, jiggle

Other definitions for jigger (2 of 3)

jigger²

[ jig-er ]

/ ˈdʒɪg ər /

noun

Also called jigger flea . chigoe.

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. chigger.

Origin of jigger

First recorded in 1750–60; variant of chigger

Other definitions for jigger (3 of 3)

jigger³

[ jig-er ]

/ ˈdʒɪg ər /

verb (used with object)

to interfere with.

to manipulate or alter, especially in order to get something done illegally or unethically: to jigger company records to conceal a loss.

Origin of jigger

First recorded in 1865–70; jig² + -er⁶

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use jigger in a sentence

When I drank at all, I barely bothered to jigger my pours to get the proportions right.
How to garnish cocktails, now that you’re clinking glasses with friends again|M. Carrie Allan|May 21, 2021|Washington Post
Every jigger and strainer and bar spoon passes through the hands of several artists, all compensated for their efforts before the company ever turns a profit, which may help account for the high price tag.
Someone Please Buy Me This Gorgeous Cocktail Set|Nick Mancall-Bitel|December 30, 2020|Eater
Serve it as is from the pot for kids; add a jigger of rum, brandy, or Calvados for the grownups.
The Perfect Holiday Cocktail|Cookstr.com|December 15, 2009|DAILY BEAST
I mean, if I was trying to jigger into—well, I guess this is my house now, so [ laughter] it probably wouldn't happen.
Obama's Insecure Slip|Tina Brown|July 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST

“I mean, if I was trying to jigger into—well, I guess this is my house now, so it probably wouldn't happen,” he explained.
Obama's New Enemies|Richard Wolffe|July 23, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Here a sort of jigger-tackle held them in a bunch bound fast to a single cable, capable of being directed by one arm.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
Turpin treated him as he had done the dub at the knapping jigger, and cleared the driver and his little wain with ease.
Rookwood|William Harrison Ainsworth
Something tells me that my tongue is doomed to wag forever to the jigger of that remorseless jingle.
Alonzo Fitz and Other Stories|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
If he pulled the mid-iron from his bag the jigger would be placed in nomination.
Fore!|Charles Emmett Van Loan
He said he felt pains in his interior, and drank a jigger of whisky.
The Book of the Bush|George Dunderdale

British Dictionary definitions for jigger (1 of 2)

jigger¹

/ (ˈdʒɪɡə) /

noun

a person or thing that jigs

golf an iron, now obsolete, with a thin blade, used for hitting long shots from a bare lie

any of a number of mechanical devices having a vibratory or jerking motion

a light lifting tackle used on ships

a small glass, esp for whisky, with a capacity of about one and a half ounces

NZ a light hand- or power-propelled vehicle used on railway lines

engineering a type of hydraulic lift in which a hydraulic ram operates the lift through a block and tackle which increases the length of the stroke

Canadian a device used when setting a gill net beneath ice

mining another word for jig (def. 5)

nautical short for jiggermast

billiards another word for bridge 1 (def. 10)

US and Canadian informal a device or thing the name of which is unknown or temporarily forgotten

Liverpool dialect an alleyway

British Dictionary definitions for jigger (2 of 2)

jigger²

jigger flea

/ (ˈdʒɪɡə) /

noun

other names for the chigoe (def. 1)

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

Medical definitions for jigger

jigger

[ jĭg′ər ]

chigger

chigoe

jigger

Origin of jigger

Words nearby jigger

Other definitions for jigger (2 of 3)

Origin of jigger

Other definitions for jigger (3 of 3)

Origin of jigger

Words related to jigger

How to use jigger in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jigger (1 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for jigger (2 of 2)

jigger flea

Medical definitions for jigger