jig

I

[[t]dʒɪg[/t]]

n. v. jigged, jig•ging

1) mac a plate, box, or open frame for holding work and for guiding a machine tool to the work

2) spo any of several devices that are jerked up and down in or pulled through the water to attract fish to a line

3) min an apparatus for washing coal or separating ore from gangue by shaking and washing

4) tex a cloth-dyeing machine in which a roll of fabric is unwound, passed through a vat of dye, and then rewound onto another cylinder

5) tex to treat, cut, produce, etc., with a jig

6) to use a jig

7) spo to fish with a jig

•

Etymology: 1855–60; prob. akin to jig II, in sense “jerk to and fro” II

jig

[[t]dʒɪg[/t]] n. v. jigged, jig•ging

1) mad a rapid, lively, springy, irregular dance for one or more persons, usu. in triple meter

2) mad a piece of music for such a dance

3) Obs. prank; trick

4) mad to dance (a jig or any lively dance)

5) mad to sing or play in the time or rhythm of a jig:

to jig a tune[/ex]

6) to cause to move with quick, jerky or bobbing motions

7) mad to dance or play a jig

8) to move with a quick, jerky motion; hop; bob

•

- in jig time

Etymology: 1550–60; in earliest sense “kind of dance” perh. < MF giguer to frolic, gambol jig′like`, jig′gish, adj.