jig Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun music in three-four time for dancing a jig
    gigue.
  2. noun a fisherman's lure with one or more hooks that is jerked up and down in the water
  3. noun a device that holds a piece of machine work and guides the tools operating on it
  4. noun any of various old rustic dances involving kicking and leaping
  5. verb dance a quick dance with leaping and kicking motions

WordNet

Jig noun
Etymology
OF. gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance, F. gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; cf. MHG. gige fiddle, G. geige. Cf. Gig a fiddle, Gig a whirligig.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) A light, brisk musical movement.
    Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jib. Shak.
  2. A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce in verse; a ballad. Obs.
    A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme Praised and applauded. Beau. & Fl.
  3. A piece of sport; a trick; a prank. Obs.
    Is't not a fine jig, A precious cunning, in the late Protector? Beau & Fl.
  4. A trolling bait, consisting of a bright spoon and a hook attached.
  5. (Mach.) (a) A small machine or handy tool; esp.: (Metal Working) A contrivance fastened to or inclosing a piece of work, and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as in filing. (b) (Mining) An apparatus or a machine for jigging ore.
Jig transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Jigged ; present participle & verbal noun Jigging
Definitions
  1. To sing to the tune of a jig.
    Jig off a tune at the tongue's end. Shak.
  2. To trick or cheat; to cajole; to delude. Ford.
  3. (Mining) To sort or separate, as ore in a jigger or sieve. See Jigging, n.
  4. (Metal Working) To cut or form, as a piece of metal, in a jigging machine.
Jig intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To dance a jig; to skip about.
    You jig, you amble, and you lisp. Shak.

Webster 1913