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gig1 definition

gig (gig)

noun

  1. a light, two-wheeled, open carriage drawn by one horse
  2. a long, light ship's boat, esp. one reserved for the commanding officer
  3. Etymology: for gig mill

    a machine for raising nap on cloth

Etymology: ME gigge, whirligig, prob. < Scand, as in Dan gig, whirling object, top, Norw dial. giga, to shake, totter < IE *gheigh- < base *ghei-, to gape > gape, giggle

intransitive verb gigged, gigging gig′·ging

to travel in a gig
gig2 definition

gig (gig)

noun

  1. a fish spear
  2. a fish line with hooks designed to catch fish by jabbing into their bodies

Etymology: contr. < earlier fishgig, fizgig < Sp fisga, kind of harpoon < fisgar < LL *fixicare, to attach < L fixare, fasten < fixus: see fix

transitive verb, intransitive verb gigged, gigging gig′·ging

to spear or jab with or as with a gig
gig3 definition

gig (gig)

noun

  1. an official record or report of a minor delinquency, as in a military school; demerit
  2. punishment for such a delinquency

Etymology: < ?

transitive verb gigged, gigging gig′·ging

to give a gig to
gig4 definition

gig (gig)

noun

  1. a job performing music, esp. jazz or rock
  2. any job

Etymology: < ?

intransitive verb gigged, gigging gig′·ging

Slang to have a job performing music, esp. jazz or rock

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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