jig

C1 Topic:Art & Music

US /dʒɪɡ/ UK /dʒɪɡ/ See IPA manual

Freq #19123

Meanings

1

noun
a lively traditional dance with quick steps and jumps, or the music for it

The fiddler struck up a jig and the dancers formed a circle.
2

verb
to dance or move with quick, lively, jerking steps

He jigged with excitement beneath the streetlamp.
3

noun
a device that holds work in position or guides a cutting tool during repeated operations

The carpenter used a jig to drill every hole at the same angle.
4

noun
a weighted fishing lure designed to move up and down in the water

She lowered a bright jig beside the pier.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a lively traditional dance... giguefolk dance

2 verb · to dance or move with... dance caper skip

3 noun · a device that holds work in... guide fixture template

4 noun · a weighted fishing lure... fishing lure

Word family

Forms jigged

Derived forms jiggerjigglejigsawrejig

Related forms dance lure tooling

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

the jig is up
a deception or secret scheme has been discovered and cannot continue

Etymology

The history is uncertain. The dance name may be related to Middle English gigge and Old French gigue, words for a fiddle; the technical and fishing senses developed from the characteristic guided or jerking motion.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# jig

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /dʒɪɡ/
**IPA (UK):** /dʒɪɡ/
**Frequency rank:** 19123

## Meanings
1. a lively traditional dance with quick steps and jumps, or the music for it
2. to dance or move with quick, lively, jerking steps
3. a device that holds work in position or guides a cutting tool during repeated operations
4. a weighted fishing lure designed to move up and down in the water

## Examples
- The fiddler struck up a jig and the dancers formed a circle.
- He jigged with excitement beneath the streetlamp.
- The carpenter used a jig to drill every hole at the same angle.
- She lowered a bright jig beside the pier.

## Synonyms
- gigue
- folk dance
- caper
- fixture
- guide

## Derived Forms
- jigger
- jiggle
- jigsaw
- rejig

## Related Forms
- dance
- lure
- tooling

## Etymology
The history is uncertain. The dance name may be related to Middle English gigge and Old French gigue, words for a fiddle; the technical and fishing senses developed from the characteristic guided or jerking motion.

## Topics
- Art & Music

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jig