Definition of 'jig'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense jigs
, present participle jigging
, past tense, past participle jigged
3. countable noun
A jig is a device that holds something in position when it is being machined by a tool
such as a drill.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
jig in British English
noun
3.
5. Also called: jigger mining
verbWord forms: jigs, jigging, jigged
7.
to dance (a jig)
8.
to jerk or cause to jerk up and down rapidly
11. mining
to separate ore or coal from waste material using a jig
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
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
Word Frequency
jig in American English 1
(dʒɪɡ) (verb jigged, jigging)
noun
1. Machinery
2. Angling
intransitive verb
6.
to use a jig
7.
to fish with a jig
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1855–60; prob. akin to jig2, in sense “jerk to and fro”; orig. and interrelationship of this group of words uncert.]Word Frequency
jig in American English 2
( dʒɪɡ) (verb jigged, jigging)
transitive verb
5.
to dance (a jig or any lively dance)
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
jiglike or jiggish adjective
Word origin
[1550–60; in earliest sense “kind of dance” perh. ‹ MF giguer to frolic, gambol, prob. ‹ an unattested WGmc verb (cf. gig1); semantic development of other senses unclear]Word Frequency
jig in American English 3
( dʒɪɡ)
noun
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
jig in American English 4
( dʒɪɡ)
noun
derogatory, offensive slang
a Black person
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1920–25, Amer.; of uncert. orig.; cf. jigaboo]Word Frequency
jig in Mechanical Engineering
(dʒɪg)
Word forms: (regular plural) jigs
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
A jig is a device for holding and supporting a workpiece in a machine tool and for guiding the cutting tool.
Jigs are similar to fixtures, but they not only locate and hold the part but also guide
the cutting tools.
A simple machining jig was used to ensure the assembly could be accurately lined up.
A jig is a device for holding and supporting a workpiece in a machine tool and for guiding
the cutting tool.
Collins COBUILD Key Words for Mechanical Engineering. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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jig
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In other languages
jig
British English: jig
VERB /dʒɪɡ/
To jig means to dance or move energetically, especially bouncing up and down.
You didn't just jig about by yourself, I mean you danced properly.
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Source
Definition of jig from the Collins English Dictionary
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