jigger

¹ American  

[jig-er] / ˈdʒɪg ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that jigs.

2. Nautical.

   1. the lowermost sail set on a jiggermast.

   2. jiggermast.

   3. a light tackle, as a gun tackle.

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

4. Informal. some contrivance, article, or part that one cannot or does not name more precisely.

   What is that little jigger on the pistol?

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

6. Mining. a jig for separating ore.

7. a jig for fishing.

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

9. Billiards, Pool. a bridge.

10. 1. a 1½-oz. (45-milliliter) measure used in cocktail recipes.

    2. a small whiskey glass holding 1½ ounces (45 milliliters).

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jigger ² American  

[jig-er] / ˈdʒɪg ər /

noun

1. Also called jigger flea.  chigoe.

2. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. chigger.

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jigger ³ American  

[jig-er] / ˈdʒɪg ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to interfere with.

2. to manipulate or alter, especially in order to get something done illegally or unethically.

   to jigger company records to conceal a loss.

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jigger ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒɪɡə /

noun

1. a person or thing that jigs

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

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

4. a light lifting tackle used on ships

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

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

7. 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

8. a device used when setting a gill net beneath ice

9. mining another word for jig

10. nautical short for jiggermast

11. billiards another word for bridge 1

12. informal a device or thing the name of which is unknown or temporarily forgotten

13. dialect an alleyway

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jigger ² British  

/ ˈdʒɪɡə /

noun

1. other names for the chigoe

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Etymology

Origin of jigger¹

First recorded in 1665–75; of unknown origin; perhaps from jig ¹ or jig ² ( def. ) + -er ¹

Origin of jigger²

First recorded in 1750–60; variant of chigger

Origin of jigger³

First recorded in 1865–70; jig ² + -er ⁶

Example Sentences

A 1/2-ounce Japanese-style jigger, which is more elongated and narrow than other types, is the “most necessary piece of barware,” Spangler said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2021

It comes with a stainless steel shaking tin, strainer, jigger, bar spoon, mixing glass and a square ice cube tray – all of which are made from recognizable drinkware brands like Koriko, Yarai and CoCo.

From Fox News • Dec. 15, 2021

Take a jigger of famous names from fashion, add film, tech, politics, sports and business, and mix.

From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2021

“Forbes bent. We had to jigger the numbers to give Trump a positive net worth.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 14, 2019

There was not a straight cue in the rack, the balls were worn and untrue, the jigger was broken.

From Here and Hereafter by Pain, Barry