Jig (?), n. [OF. gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance, F. gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; cf. MHG. gIge fiddle, G. geige. Cf. Gig a fiddle, Gig a whirligig.]
1. (Mus.)
A light, brisk musical movement.
Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig.
Shak.
3.
A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce in verse; a ballad. [Obs.]
A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme
Praised and applauded.
Beau. & Fl.
4.
A piece of sport; a trick; a prank. [Obs.]
Is't not a fine jig,
A precious cunning, in the late Protector?
Beau. & Fl.
5.
A trolling bait, consisting of a bright spoon and a hook attached.
6. (Mach.)
(a)
A small machine or handy tool; esp.: (Metal Working)
A contrivance fastened to or inclosing a piece of work, and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as in filing.
(b) (Mining)
An apparatus or a machine for jigging ore.
Drill jig, a jig for guiding a drill. See Jig, 6 (a). --
Jig drilling, Jig filing (Metal Working), a process of drilling or filing in which the action of the tool is directed or limited by a jig. --
Jig saw, a sawing machine with a narrow, vertically reciprocating saw, used to cut curved and irregular lines, or ornamental patterns in openwork, a scroll saw; -- called also gig saw.
© Webster 1913
Jig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jigging (?).]
1.
To sing to the tune of a jig.
Jig off a tune at the tongue's end.
Shak.
2.
To trick or cheat; to cajole; to delude. Ford.
3. (Mining)
To sort or separate, as ore in a jigger or sieve. See Jigging, n.
4. (Metal Working)
To cut or form, as a piece of metal, in a jigging machine.
© Webster 1913
Jig, v. i.
To dance a jig; to skip about.
You jig, you amble, and you lisp.
Shak.
© Webster 1913
Jig, v. i.
To move with a skip or rhythm; to move with vibrations or jerks.
The fin would jig off slowly, as if it were looking for nothing at all.
Kipling.
© Webster 1913