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whig
[ hwig, wig ]
/ ʰwɪg, wɪg /
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verb (used without object), whigged, whig·ging.Scot.
to move along briskly.
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Origin of whig
1660–70; perhaps Scots variant of dial. fig to move briskly; see fidget
Words nearby whig
whiffet, whiffle, whiffler, whiffletree, whiffy, whig, Whiggish, Whiggism, whigmaleerie, whigmaleery, Whig party
Other definitions for whig (2 of 2)
Whig
[ hwig, wig ]
/ ʰwɪg, wɪg /
noun
American History.
- a member of the patriotic party during the Revolutionary period; supporter of the Revolution.
- a member of a political party (c1834–1855) that was formed in opposition to the Democratic Party, and favored economic expansion and a high protective tariff, while opposing the strength of the presidency in relation to the legislature.
British Politics.
- a member of a major political party (1679–1832) in Great Britain that held liberal principles and favored reforms: later called the Liberal party.
- (in later use) one of the more conservative members of the Liberal party.
adjective
being a Whig.
of, relating to, or characteristic of the Whigs.
Origin of Whig
1635–45; earlier, a Covenanter, hence an opponent of the accession of James II; of uncertain origin, though probably in part a shortening of whiggamaire (later whiggamore), a participant in the Whiggamore Raid a march against the royalists in Edinburgh launched by Covenanters in 1648 (said to represent whig to spur on (cf. whig) + mairemare1)
OTHER WORDS FROM Whig
pro-Whig, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use whig in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for whig
Whig
/ (wɪɡ) /
noun
adjective
of, characteristic of, or relating to Whigs
Derived forms of Whig
Whiggery or Whiggism, nounWhiggish, adjectiveWhiggishly, adverbWhiggishness, nounWord Origin for Whig
C17: probably shortened from whiggamore, one of a group of 17th-century Scottish rebels who joined in an attack on Edinburgh known as the whiggamore raid; probably from Scottish whig to drive (of obscure origin) + more, mer, maire horse, mare 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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