jig

1 of 2

noun

ˈjig 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

Verb

• fiddle
• fidget
• jerk
• jiggle
• squiggle
• squirm
• thrash
• thresh
• toss
• twist
• twitch
• wiggle
• wriggle
• writhe

Examples of jig in a Sentence

Noun

okay, buster, the jig is up

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

Take a 3/8-ounce skipping jig and put it on a 7-foot medium-heavy rod with 17-pound fluorocarbon and get intimate with that exact setup. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 10 July 2024

The buoyancy lifts the plastic vertically while the jig head sits on the bottom. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2024

Verb

When casting and rip jigging it, the water resistance makes this lure fall ever so slowly, which is a good ploy along the edges of weed beds. —David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024

When jigging, for example, a 5 1/2- to 6 ½-foot medium-light-power fast-action spinning rod, with spinning reel filled with 6- to 8-pound-test braid is most common. —David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024

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

Phrases Containing jig

• in jig time
• the jig is up

Kids Definition

jig

1 of 2 noun

ˈjig 

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