Machinery. a plate, box, or open frame for holding work and for guiding a machine tool to the work, used especially for locating and spacing drilled holes; fixture.
Angling. any of several devices or lures, especially a hook or gang of hooks weighted with metal and dressed with hair, feathers, etc., for jerking up and down in or drawing through the water to attract fish.
Mining. an apparatus for washing coal or separating ore from gangue by shaking and washing.
a cloth-dyeing machine in which the material, guided by rollers, is passed at full width through a dye solution in an open vat.
verb (used with object),jigged,jig·ging.
to treat, cut, produce, etc., with a jig.
verb (used without object),jigged,jig·ging.
to use a jig.
to fish with a jig.
Origin of jig
1
First recorded in 1855–60; probably akin to jig2, in the sense “jerk to and fro”; origin and interrelationship of these words uncertain
a rapid, lively, springy, irregular dance for one or more persons, usually in triple meter.
a piece of music for or in the rhythm of such a dance.
Obsolete. prank; trick.
verb (used with object),jigged,jig·ging.
to dance (a jig or any lively dance).
to sing or play in the time or rhythm of a jig: to jig a tune.
to move with a jerky or bobbing motion; jerk up and down or to and fro.
verb (used without object),jigged,jig·ging.
to dance or play a jig.
to move with a quick, jerky motion; hop; bob.
Origin of jig
2
1550–60; in earliest sense “kind of dance” perhaps <Middle French giguer to frolic, gambol, probably < an unattested WGmc verb (cf. gig1); semantic development of other senses unclear
OTHER WORDS FROM jig
jiglike,jiggish,adjective
Definition for jig (3 of 4)
jig3
[ jig ]
/ dʒɪg /
noun
(formerly used in communications to represent the letter J.)
Definition for jig (4 of 4)
jig4
[ jig ]
/ dʒɪg /
nounSlang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.
Origin of jig
4
1920–25, Americanism; of uncertain origin; cf. jigaboo
"Divil a-man in the five parishes can dance 'Jig Polthogue' wid him, for all that," said Barny.
The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh|William Carleton
A notable 'jig' was that called 'Schanke's Ordinary,' in which several performers took part.
South London|Sir Walter Besant
"I don't know how to 'jig,' but it's delightful to look on," she answered merrily.
What Katy Did Next|Susan Coolidge
British Dictionary definitions for jig
jig
/ (dʒɪɡ) /
noun
any of several old rustic kicking and leaping dances
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually in six-eight time
a mechanical device designed to hold and locate a component during machining and to guide the cutting tool
anglingany of various spinning lures that wobble when drawn through the water
Also called: jiggermininga device for separating ore or coal from waste material by agitation in water
obsoletea joke or prank
verbjigs, jiggingorjigged
to dance (a jig)
to jerk or cause to jerk up and down rapidly
(often foll by up)to fit or be fitted in a jig
(tr)to drill or cut (a workpiece) in a jig
miningto separate ore or coal from waste material using a jig
(intr)to produce or manufacture a jig
Australianslangto play truant from school
Word Origin for jig
C16 (originally: a dance or the music for it; applied to various modern devices because of the verbal sense: to jerk up and down rapidly): of unknown origin