gig

¹

[ gig ]

noun

1. a single professional engagement of one or more performers, especially of jazz or rock musicians:

   His band has a gig at a club in New Jersey.

2. a live performance, as on a stage:

   I went to see my friend's comedy gig.

3. any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration:

   Years ago he had a teaching gig out west somewhere.

adjective

1. relating to or being a job of short or uncertain duration:

   Gig workers don't receive benefits such as health insurance.

verb (used without object)

, gigged, gig·ging.

1. to work as a musician or other performer, especially in a single engagement:

   That vocalist has gigged with some of the biggest names in the business.

2. to work at any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration:

   He gigs as a clown at children’s birthday parties.

gig

²

[ gig ]

noun

, Informal.

1. short for gigabyte.

gig

³

[ gig ]

noun

1. a light, two-wheeled one-horse carriage.
2. Nautical.
   1. a light boat rowed with four, six, or eight long oars.
   2. 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. Obsolete. whirligig ( def 5 ).

verb (used without object)

, gigged, gig·ging.

1. to ride in a gig.
2. to raise the nap on (a fabric).

gig

⁴

[ gig ]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

, gigged, gig·ging.

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

verb (used without object)

, gigged, gig·ging.

1. to catch fish or frogs with a gig.

gig

⁵

[ gig ]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

, gigged, gig·ging.

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

gig

¹

/ ɡɪɡ /

noun

1. a job, esp a single booking for a musician, comedian, etc, to perform at a concert or club
2. the performance itself

verb

1. intr to perform at a gig or gigs

gig

²

/ ɡɪɡ /

noun

1. informal.
   short for gigabyte

gig

³

/ ɡɪɡ /

noun

1. a cluster of barbless hooks drawn through a shoal of fish to try to impale them
2. short for fishgig

verb

1. to catch (fish) with a gig

gig

⁴

/ ɡɪɡ /

noun

1. a light two-wheeled one-horse carriage without a hood
2. nautical a light tender for a vessel, often for the personal use of the captain
3. a long light rowing boat, used esp for racing
4. a machine for raising the nap of a fabric

verb

1. intr to travel in a gig
2. tr to raise the nap of (fabric)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gig¹

First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain

Origin of gig²

First recorded in 1985–90

Origin of gig³

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English gigge, gig “flighty girl, loose woman; awkward or boorish man”; akin to Danish gig “top”; compare Norwegian giga “to shake about”

Origin of gig⁴

First recorded in 1700–10; shortened from fishgig or fizgig

Origin of gig⁵

First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of gig¹

C20: of unknown origin

Origin of gig²

C18: shortened from fishgig

Origin of gig³

C13 (in the sense: flighty girl, spinning top): perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish gig top, Norwegian giga to shake about

Example Sentences

He landed a gig as an assistant to Phillip Spector, an eccentric music producer and architect of the “Wall of Sound.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Betty White: A Celebration” included behind-the-scenes footage from her myriad acting gigs over the decades and quotes from her final interview.

From Los Angeles Times

Media reports say Kimmel - who has hosted the Oscars four times in the past eight years - and comedian John Mulaney both turned down offers for this year's gig.

From BBC

Perhaps Gaetz, now out of a job, will have to settle for a position that doesn’t require Senate confirmation — or a gig on Newsmax.

From Salon

Some sceptics had seen the new gig as a non-job from the start.

From BBC

Related Words

• appearance
• concert
• engagement
• recital