gig

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a booking for musicians

   they played a gig in New Jersey

2. 2
   noun

   Originally (music), a performing engagement by a musician or musical group; (by extension, film, television, theater) a job or role for a performer.

   I caught one of the Rolling Stones’ first gigs in Richmond.

3. 3
   noun

   Any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.

   I had this gig as a file clerk but it wasn’t my style so I left.

4. 4
   noun

   A demerit received for some infraction of a military deportment or dress code.

   I received gigs for having buttons of my uniform undone.

5. 5
   verb

   To impose a demerit (on someone) for an infraction of a military deportment or dress code.

   His sergeant gigged him for an unmade bunk.

6. 6
   verb

   To engage in a musical performance, act in a theatre production, etc.

   The Rolling Stones were gigging around Richmond at the time.

7. 7
   noun

   Clipping of gigabyte (“one billion (1,000,000,000) bytes”).

   This picture is almost a gig; don’t you want to resize it?

8. 8
   noun

   A top which is made to spin by tying a piece of string around it and then throwing it so that the string unwinds rapidly; a whipping-top.

   Peda[nt]. Thou diſputes like an Infant: goe vvhip thy Gigg. / Pag[e]. Lende me your Horne to make one, and I vvill vvhip about your Infamie vnũ cita a gigge of a Cuckolds horne.

Etymology

From Middle English gig, gigge, gegge, possibly either: * from Old French gigue (“tall, skinny girl”) (modern French gigue), from Old Norse gikkr (“pert person”) (related to Danish gjæk (“fool, jester”), Swedish gäck (“fool, jester; a wag”); see also geck); or * from Middle English gigg, gigge, gygge (“spinning object; a top”) (see etymology 3).