zigzagger

[ zig-zag-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that zigzags.
2. an attachment on a sewing machine for making zigzag stitches.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zigzagger¹

zigzag + -er ¹

Example Sentences

And yet, when he did win, the Italian zigzagger was overtaken by something close to modesty.

From Time Magazine Archive

More About Zigzagger

What does zigzagger mean?

A zigzagger is someone or something that zigzags—moves in a pattern of alternating, sharp up-and-down turns.

This kind of pattern is called a zigzag. The word zigzag can also refer to a route or path that resembles this kind of pattern, as in The dragonfly moved through the air in a zigzag. 

Zigzagger isn’t commonly used in this way—there just aren’t that many situations in which it would make sense to use it. However, zigzag can mean to keep changing one’s mind (to flip-flop), and a person who does this can be called a zigzagger. A much more common term for this is flip-flopper.

Zigzagger is sometimes used in a much more specific way to refer to a sewing machine attachment that’s used to make a zigzag stitch—a kind of back and forth stitch that can be used to finish the edges of a garment or to join stretch fabrics. These are sometimes called zigzag attachments.

Example: No, I didn’t sew it by hand—my machine has a zigzagger that can do that kind of stitch.

Where does zigzagger come from?

The first records of the word zigzag come from around the early 1700s, and the word zigzagger has been used since at least the mid-1800s. Zigzag comes from the French ziczac, from the German zickzack, which is based on the German Zacke, meaning “point” or “jagged projection.”

In the context of sewing machines, zigzaggers are attachments that can be added to machines called straight needle sewing machines to allow them to make zigzag stitches—which they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to zigzagger?

• zigzag (verb, noun)

What are some synonyms for zigzagger?

• zigzag attachment
• flip-flopper

What are some words that share a root or word element with zigzagger? 

 

• zig
• zag
• zigzag rule

What are some words that often get used in discussing zigzagger?

 

• sewing machine
• sew
• stitch
• attachment
• pattern
• edge
• seam

How is zigzagger used in real life?

Zigzagger is not commonly used. When it is, it usually refers to a sewing machine attachment.

Ouchhhh. Liberman calls Netanyahu a zigzagger, says he spoke out against 2-states before election and backtracked after.

— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) May 4, 2015

laying out tomorrow's labor day plans: a psychedelic-geometric knit pencil skirt, contingent on if I get that automatic zigzagger extension for my straight-stich sewing machine working 🤞 pic.twitter.com/JGxGrDN4RL

— slurm daemon slayer // B L M (@michkellelley) September 1, 2019

Decided to go for it and rigged my Singer Automatic Zigzagger attachment for the first time in my life. The thing is brilliant. https://t.co/8PGBHeD3hx

— Hansa K Pistotnik (@XarifaBedford) August 3, 2020

 

Try using zigzagger!

Is zigzagger used correctly in the following sentence?

My antique sewing machine has a zigzagger attachment that lets me sew zigzag stitches.