zagn.adv.v.
/zaɡ/, U.S. /zæɡ/ Used to express a movement or direction inclined at an angle to that indicated by zig v.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement [verb (intransitive)] > move in winding course
to turn and winda1398
wreathea1500
twine1553
indent1567
virea1586
crank1594
to dance the hay or hays1600
maze1605
serpent1606
to indent the way1612
cringlea1629
indenture1631
circumgyre1634
twist1635
glomerate1638
winda1682
serpentine1767
meander1785
zigzag1787
zag1793
to worm one's way1822
vandyke1828
crankle1835
thread the needle1843
switchback1903
rattlesnake1961
zig1969
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > [noun] > indirectness of course > moving in winding course > instance of or a winding course > a turn in
zag1840
zig1969
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > [adverb] > not in a straight course > in a winding course
aboutOE
aboutsa1387
windingly1576
zigzag1754
mazily1845
zag1906
zigzaggedly1921
1793 R. Burns Let. 26 Apr. (2003) II. 212 I have written many a letter in return for letters I have received; but then—they were original matter—spurt—away! zig, here; zag, there.
1840 T. Arnold in A. P. Stanley Life & Corr. T. Arnold (1844) II. 403 We go down by zig and zag towards the level of the Tiber.
1899 H. Sutcliffe Shameless Wayne xii. 158 His steel zags down like lightning before a man's eye can teach his hand to parry.
1906 Spectator 1 Dec. 879/2 One of the chief difficulties of walking up snipe is that when you shoot zig he goes zag, and when you shoot zag he goes zig.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adv.v.1793