whig

¹

[ hwig, wig ]

verb (used without object)

, Scot.

, whigged, whig·ging.

1. to move along briskly.

Whig

²

[ hwig, wig ]

noun

1. American History.
   1. a member of the patriotic party during the Revolutionary period; supporter of the Revolution.
   2. a member of a political party (c1834–1855) that was formed in opposition to the Democratic Party, and favored economic expansion and a high protective tariff, while opposing the strength of the presidency in relation to the legislature.
2. British Politics.
   1. a member of a major political party (1679–1832) in Great Britain that held liberal principles and favored reforms: later called the Liberal party.
   2. (in later use) one of the more conservative members of the Liberal party.

adjective

1. being a Whig.
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Whigs.

Whig

/ wɪɡ /

noun

1. a member of the English political party or grouping that opposed the succession to the throne of James, Duke of York, in 1679–80 on the grounds that he was a Catholic. Standing for a limited monarchy, the Whigs represented the great aristocracy and the moneyed middle class for the next 80 years. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the Whigs represented the desires of industrialists and Dissenters for political and social reform. The Whigs provided the core of the Liberal Party
2. (in the US) a supporter of the War of American Independence Compare Tory
3. a member of the American political party that opposed the Democrats from about 1834 to 1855 and represented propertied and professional interests
4. a conservative member of the Liberal Party in Great Britain
5. a person who advocates and believes in an unrestricted laissez-faire economy
6. history a 17th-century Scottish Presbyterian, esp one in rebellion against the Crown

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to Whigs

Derived Forms

• ˈWhiggish, adjective
• ˈWhiggishly, adverb
• ˈWhiggery, noun
• ˈWhiggishness, noun

Other Words From

• an·ti-Whig adjective
• pro-Whig adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whig¹

1660–70; perhaps Scots variant of dial. fig to move briskly; fidget

Origin of whig²

1635–45; earlier, a Covenanter, hence an opponent of the accession of James II; of uncertain origin, though probably in part a shortening of whiggamaire (later whiggamore ), a participant in the Whiggamore Raid a march against the royalists in Edinburgh launched by Covenanters in 1648 (said to represent whig to spur on ( whig ) + maire mare ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of whig¹

C17: probably shortened from whiggamore, one of a group of 17th-century Scottish rebels who joined in an attack on Edinburgh known as the whiggamore raid; probably from Scottish whig to drive (of obscure origin) + more, mer, maire horse, mare ¹

Example Sentences

It feels as distant from them as the Whigs or the Federalists — a story that took place a long time ago in an America far, far away.

From Los Angeles Times

When political organizations like the Whigs and early Democrats first began holding national conventions in the 1830s, they served a function analogous to modern Zoom conference calls.

From Salon

The Northern Whig, no longer in circulation, carried the headline 'invasion is going well' in its 05:00 war special issue.

From BBC

On Sunday, Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum as president, and history was made in a way that makes American politics seem as antiquated as the Whigs.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1836, Democrat Martin Van Buren defeated William Henry Harrison of the Whig Party, only to have Harrison win a rematch between the two and take the presidency four years later.

From Seattle Times