jig

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: any of several lively springy dances in triple rhythm
b
: music to which a jig may be danced
2
: trick, game
used chiefly in the phrase the jig is up
3
a
: any of several fishing devices that are jerked up and down or drawn through the water
b
: a device used to maintain mechanically the correct positional relationship between a piece of work and the tool or between parts of work during assembly
c
: a device in which crushed ore is concentrated or coal is cleaned by agitating in water

jig

2 of 2

verb

jigged; jigging

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move with rapid jerky motions
b
: to dance a jig
2
: to fish with a jig

transitive verb

1
: to dance in the rapid lively manner of a jig
2
a
: to give a rapid jerky motion to
b
: to separate (a mineral or ore from waste) with a jig
3
: to catch (a fish) with a jig
4
: to machine by means of a jig-controlled tool operation
Phrases
in jig time
: in a short time : quickly

Examples of jig in a Sentence

Verb We jigged to the fiddle music. the mother could tell that her little boy had to use the bathroom because he was jigging
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The five animal friends sang and danced to jazz, funk, bossa nova, Irish jig, township jive, tarantella and psychedelic soul. John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Dipping the tips of your jig trailers in one of these bright colors works well, too. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 Entering the Plough is a bit like boarding an ancient ship, all creaking wood and dark corners and perhaps a fiddler playing a jig yonder. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Anglers who locate schools of crappie can catch fish by the dozen using small tube jigs or hair jigs. Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Chalamet's Wonka discovers the orange-skinned lad in a glass case, in which Grant performs a little jig for the audience's amusement. Jessica Wang and Nick Romano, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2023 Specialized fixtures and jigs used in the production process would be less common, leading to more hand work and then more re-work. Bill Conerly, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The right box will be large enough to carry all of your fishing supplies—lures, pliers, hooks, sinkers, extra fishing line, jigs, and baits—without being overly bulky. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024 The same goes for lure makers who use natural materials to make jigs and other artificials. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Some of the biggest fish are caught through the ice by jigging small lures tipped with bait. Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Deep trolling or jigging with spoons, tubes, flukes and other minnow-imitating lures — or dead fish — are the best ways to catch lake trout in the summer. Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 At the reservoir, which was created when the Fort Peck Dam was built on the Missouri River from 1933 to 1937, anglers can use live bait, set up to six tip-ups, or try jigging for trout under the ice. Outside Online, 6 Mar. 2023 Inside, soft music played over the sound of ice cubes jigging in a metal shaker by the bar. Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Feb. 2023 Never comes up short: A high line capacity is ideal for jigging deep or trolling far behind the boat. Jerry Audet, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023 But this is hardly true when jigging in shallow waters over sandy bottom for fluke, where a low-profile baitcasting reel may be preferable. Jerry Audet, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023 Swimbaits can be reeled in steadily or even jigged vertically. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 25 Apr. 2023 Action: Is this a fast action rod that is good for jigging? Travis Smola, Field & Stream, 9 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Middle French giguer to frolic, from gigue fiddle, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gīga fiddle; akin to Old Norse geiga to turn aside

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of jig was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near jig

Cite this Entry

“Jig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jig. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jig

1 of 2 noun
1
: a lively springy dance
2
: trick entry 1 sense 1, game
used chiefly in the phrase the jig is up

jig

2 of 2 verb
jigged; jigging
1
: to dance a jig
2
: to jerk up and down or to and fro

More from Merriam-Webster on jig

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