rigging

[ rig-ing ]

noun

1. the ropes, chains, etc., employed to support and work the masts, yards, sails, etc., on a ship.
2. lifting or hauling tackle.
3. Informal. clothing.

rigging

/ ˈrɪɡɪŋ /

noun

1. the shrouds, stays, halyards, etc, of a vessel
2. the bracing wires, struts, and lines of a biplane, balloon, etc
3. any form of lifting gear, tackle, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigging¹

First recorded in 1480–90; rig + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The show will feature an international troop that will perform aerial ballet from riggings set in Hook Hall’s ceilings.

From Washington Blade

Both ships’ rigging had taken extensive damage, though El Almirante had the worst of it.

From Time

Even if Frank’s analysis were not obvious question-begging, there’s no evidence of any effort to do the sort of rigging that he alleges.

From Washington Post

Crew members complained about the birds’ “boldness and rapacity,” and a lookout was posted to prevent them from picking apart the ship’s rigging.

From Outside Online

There were reports of rigging, fraud and the use of violence to influence voting.

From The Daily Beast

“People are really upset and motivated by the idea that the wealthy are rigging the game in their favor,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Children have fantasy lives so rich and combustible that rigging them with lies is like putting a propeller on a rocket.

From The Daily Beast

And with a history of elections marred by rigging, voters were particularly sensitive and vocal about hints of irregularities.

From The Daily Beast

The group is threatening to stage rallies if Shafiq wins—a victory that will undoubtedly bring charges of vote-rigging.

From The Daily Beast

They nodded at each other when they met, and the gray man showed him a little ship with rigging that took up and down.

From Project Gutenberg

But she told them all the helpful things she could about setting up the radio paraphernalia and rigging the wires.

From Project Gutenberg

The captain immediately went on deck, and Neptune hailed from the fore part of the rigging, "What ship?"

From Project Gutenberg

The wind whistled terribly through the rigging of the great ships, and the moorings and fenders creaked and grated.

From Project Gutenberg

Look at Farragut in the Civil War, facing death in the rigging that he might see the enemy!

From Project Gutenberg