gig

gig¹

/gig/, n., v., gigged, gigging.

n.

1. a light, two-wheeled one-horse carriage.

2. Naut.

a. a light boat rowed with four, six, or eight long oars.

b. a boat reserved for the use of the captain of a ship.

3. something that whirls.

4. Also called gig mill. a roller containing teasels, used for raising nap on a fabric.

5. Obs. whirligig (def. 5).

v.i.

6. to ride in a gig.

7. to raise the nap on (a fabric).

[1200-50; ME gigge, gig flighty girl; akin to Dan gig top; cf. Norw giga to shake about]

gig²

/gig/, n., v., gigged, gigging.

n.

1. a device, commonly four hooks secured back to back, for dragging through a school of fish to hook them through the body.

2. a spearlike device with a long, thick handle, used for spearing fish and frogs.

v.t.

3. to catch or spear (a fish or frog) with a gig.

v.i.

4. to catch fish or frogs with a gig.

[1715-25; shortened from FISHGIG or FIZGIG]

gig³

/gig/, n., v., gigged, gigging.

n.

1. an official report of a minor infraction of regulations, as in school or the army; a demerit.

2. a punishment for a minor infraction of rules.

v.t.

3. to give a gig to or punish with a gig.

[1940-45; orig. uncert.]

gig⁴

/gig/, n., v., gigged, gigging. Slang.

n.

1. a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.

2. any job, esp. one of short or uncertain duration: a teaching gig out west somewhere.

v.i.

3. to work as a musician, esp. in a single engagement: He gigged with some of the biggest names in the business.

[1925-30; orig. uncert.]

* * *

▪ carriage

      any of several members of a class of light, open, two-wheeled, one-horse carriages, popular in France, England, and America. The gig, which first appeared in Paris in the 17th century, is the ancestor of the cabriolet. Popular variations were the Tilbury gig and the Stanhope gig, both designed by Fitzroy Stanhope. The Stanhope gig was an elegant carriage with low wheels that therefore required shafts with an upward reverse curve where attached to the horse's harness. The Tilbury resembled the Stanhope except in its manner of suspension.

      At one stage in its career, this gig was fairly unstable; if the horse fell to his knees, the cross springs under the body would jerk and spill the riders. The gig was popular in 19th-century England and America and is still used today in horse shows.

* * *