gig definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

Nearby Entries

gig - 22 dictionary results

gig

1 [gig]

noun, verb, gigged, gig⋅ging.

Use gig in a Sentence

–noun

1.	a light, two-wheeled one-horse carriage.

Nautical.

a.	a light boat rowed with four, six, or eight long oars.

b.	a boat reserved for the use of the captain of a ship.

3.	something that whirls.

4.	Also called gig mill. a roller containing teasels, used for raising nap on a fabric.

5.	Obsolete. whirligig (def. 5).

–verb (used without object)

6.	to ride in a gig.

7.	to raise the nap on (a fabric).

Origin:
1200–50; ME gigge, gig flighty girl; akin to Dan gig top; cf. Norw giga to shake about

gig

2 [gig]

noun, verb, gigged, gig⋅ging.

–noun

1.	a device, commonly four hooks secured back to back, for dragging through a school of fish to hook them through the body.

2.	a spearlike device with a long, thick handle, used for spearing fish and frogs.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to catch or spear (a fish or frog) with a gig.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to catch fish or frogs with a gig.

Origin:
1715–25; shortened from fishgig or fizgig

gig

3 [gig]

noun, verb, gigged, gig⋅ging.

–noun

1.	an official report of a minor infraction of regulations, as in school or the army; a demerit.

2.	a punishment for a minor infraction of rules.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to give a gig to or punish with a gig.

Origin:
1940–45; orig. uncert.

gig

4 [gig]

noun, verb, gigged, gig⋅ging. Slang.

–noun

1.	a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.

2.	any job, esp. one of short or uncertain duration: a teaching gig out west somewhere.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to work as a musician, esp. in a single engagement: He gigged with some of the biggest names in the business.

Origin:
1925–30; orig. uncert.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To gig

gig¹ (gĭg)

A light, two-wheeled carriage drawn by one horse.
Nautical
1. A long light ship's boat, usually reserved for use by the ship's captain.
2. A fast light rowboat.
3. An object that whirls.
4. Games A three-digit selection in a numbers game.
1. An object that whirls.
2. Games A three-digit selection in a numbers game.

intr.v. gigged, gig·ging, gigs
To ride in a gig.

[Perhaps from obsolete gig, spinning top, from Middle English gyg-, possibly of Scandinavian origin.]

gig² (gĭg)

An arrangement of barbless hooks that is dragged through a school of fish to hook them in their bodies.
A pronged spear for fishing or catching frogs.

v.   gigged, gig·ging, gigs

v.   tr.
To fish for or catch with a gig.
v.   intr.
To catch a fish or frog with a gig.

[Short for fishgig.]

gig³ (gĭg)

n. A demerit given in the military.
tr.v. gigged, gig·ging, gigs
To give a military demerit to.

[Origin unknown.]

gig⁴ (gĭg)

n. A job, especially a booking for musicians.
intr.v. gigged, gig·ging, gigs
To work as a musician: "gigging weekends as a piano player in the ski joints" (Joel Oppenheimer).

[Origin unknown.]

gig⁵ (gĭg, jĭg)

n. Informal
A gigabyte.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Gig

Gig\ (j[i^]g or g[i^]g), n. [Cf. OF. gigue. See Jig, n.] A fiddle. [Obs.]

Gig

Gig\ (g[i^]g), v. t. [Prob. fr. L. gignere to beget.] To engender. [Obs.] --Dryden.

Gig

Gig\, n. A kind of spear or harpoon. See Fishgig.

Gig

Gig\, v. t. To fish with a gig.

Gig

Gig\, n. [OE. gigge. Cf. Giglot.] A playful or wanton girl; a giglot.

Gig

Gig\, n. [Cf. Icel. g[imac]gja fiddle, MHG. g[imac]ge, G. geige, Icel. geiga to take a wrong direction, rove at random, and E. jig.]

1. A top or whirligig; any little thing that is whirled round in play.

Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gig. --Shak.

2. A light carriage, with one pair of wheels, drawn by one horse; a kind of chaise.

3. (Naut.) A long, light rowboat, generally clinkerbuilt, and designed to be fast; a boat appropriated to the use of the commanding officer; as, the captain's gig.

4. (Mach.) A rotatory cylinder, covered with wire teeth or teasels, for teaseling woolen cloth.

Gig machine, Gigging machine, Gig mill, or Napping machine. See Gig, 4.

Gig saw. See Jig saw.

gig

/jig/ or /gig/ n. [SI] See quantifiers.

Jargon File 4.2.0
Cite This Source

gig (1)

"light carriage, small boat," 1790, perhaps, on notion of bouncing, from M.E. ghyg "spinning top" (in whyrlegyg, 1440), also "giddy girl" (giglet), from O.N. geiga "turn sideways," or Dan. gig "spinning top."

gig (2)

"job," first used by jazz musicians, attested from 1915 but said to have been in use c.1905; of uncertain origin.

gig
gigabyte

GIG
GaleÃ£o International Airport (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

gig

any of several members of a class of light, open, two-wheeled, one-horse carriages, popular in France, England, and America. The gig, which first appeared in Paris in the 17th century, is the ancestor of the cabriolet. Popular variations were the Tilbury gig and the Stanhope gig, both designed by Fitzroy Stanhope. The Stanhope gig was an elegant carriage with low wheels that therefore required shafts with an upward reverse curve where attached to the horse's harness. The Tilbury resembled the Stanhope except in its manner of suspension

Learn more about gig with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source

Search another word or see gig on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us