gigmann.1
/ˈɡɪɡmən/ One who keeps or uses a gig; whimsically used by Carlyle for one whose respectability is measured by his keeping a gig; a narrow-minded person belonging to the middle class, who views ‘respectability’ as the chief concern of life, a ‘Philistine’. Invented by Carlyle, who gives ( Miscell. (1857) III. 56) the following quotation in explanation of its origin. ‘Q. What do you mean by “respectable”? A. He always kept a gig. (Thurtell's trial).’ This is taken from Q. Rev. XXXVII. (1828) 15, where the writer says ‘We quote from memory’. In the Times report of the trial (3 Nov. 1823) the passage reads: ‘He always maintained an appearance of respectability, and kept his horse and gig.’
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > [noun] > middle class or bourgeoisie > person
bourgeois1704
gigman1830
haut bourgeois1846
petit bourgeois1851
petty bourgeois1871
middle-classer1886
middle-middle1926
Middletowner1937
middle1955
bourgie1966
1830 T. Carlyle in Foreign Rev. Jan. 27 This was not a nobleman, nor gentleman, nor gigman; but simply a man!
1840 T. Hood Up Rhine 4 The doctor, be it said, is a respectable gigman, who also likes a fast horse.
1884 R. Buchanan in Harper's Mag. Sept. 603/2 The gigman..spells God with a little ‘g’.
Derivatives
Hence many nonce-words of obvious meaning used by Carlyle or his imitators.
ˈgigmaness n. Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1831 T. Carlyle Let. 29 Aug. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (1976) V. 373 As Gigmanness you could not have lived.
ˈgigmanhood n. Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1832 Carlyle Ess. (1872) iv. 150 Consider what this Gigmanhood issues in.
gigˈmania n. [with play on mania n.] Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1830 T. Carlyle Let. 21 Aug. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (1976) V. 145 The Gig and Gigmania must rot.
gigˈmanic adj. Apparently an isolated use.
gigˈmanically adv. Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1832 T. Carlyle Note Bk. in J. A. Froude T. Carlyle: First Forty Years (1882) II. x. 233 A..person of considerable faculty, which, however, had shaped itself gigmanically only.
ˈgigmanism n. Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1835 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 42 Educated in the school of country gigmanism.
gigˈmanity n.
ΚΠ
1831 T. Carlyle Let. 11 Sept. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (1976) V. 418 Frivolous Gigmanity.
1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 12 Feb. 112/3 The sculptor's abandonment of exotic delights and infidelity to return to swaggering Sicilian gigmanity.
1966 New Statesman 16 Dec. 908/3 The style..was suitable for the full-souled, for the gigmanity and for those in office.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
gigmann.2
U.S.
One who fishes with a gig; = gigger n.2
ΚΠ
1889 in Cent. Dict.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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