gig

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Originally (music), a performing engagement by a musician or musical group

   Originally (music), a performing engagement by a musician or musical group; (by extension, film, television, theater) a job or role for a performer.

   • I caught one of the Rolling Stones’ first gigs in Richmond.
   • Hey, when are we gonna get that hotel gig again?
2. 2

   Any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.

   • I had this gig as a file clerk but it wasn’t my style so I left.
   • That guy’s got a great gig over at the bike shop. He hardly works all day.
   • Whether you want to have some occasional translation gigs or turn freelance translating into your fulltime occupation, you'll need to know some essential things […]
3. 3

   A demerit received for some infraction of a military deportment or dress code.

   • I received gigs for having buttons of my uniform undone.
4. ›+ 16 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To play (a musical instrument) at a gig.

   2. 5

      To impose a demerit (on someone) for an infraction of a military deportment or dress code.

      • His sergeant gigged him for an unmade bunk.
   3. 6

      To engage in a musical performance, act in a theatre production, etc.

      • The Rolling Stones were gigging around Richmond at the time.
   4. 7

      To work at any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an…

      To work at any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.

   5. 8

      Clipping of gigabyte (“one billion (1,000,000,000) bytes”).

      • This picture is almost a gig; don’t you want to resize it?
      • My new computer has over 500 gigs of hard drive space.
      • The restore would get through between 13 and 20 gigs of data, and then the tape would fail.
   6. 9

      Any unit of measurement having the SI prefix giga-.

   7. 10

      A top which is made to spin by tying a piece of string around it and then throwing it so…

      A top which is made to spin by tying a piece of string around it and then throwing it so that the string unwinds rapidly; a whipping-top.

      • Peda[nt]. Thou diſputes like an Infant: goe vvhip thy Gigg. / Pag[e]. Lende me your Horne to make one, and I vvill vvhip about your Infamie vnũ cita a gigge of a Cuckolds horne.
      • From infancy through childhood's giddy maze, / Frovvard at ſchool, and fretful in his plays, / The puny tyrant burns to ſubjugate / The free republic of the vvhip-gig ſtate.
   8. 11

      A person with an odd appearance

      A person with an odd appearance; also, a foolish person.

   9. 12

      Senses relating to enjoyment.

      • Such was his toil, when one night coming home, / Such swell uncivil, who'd been out to roam / In search of lark, or some delicious gig / The mind delights in, when 'tis in prime twig,—
   10. 13

       Senses relating to vehicles.

       • The captain's gig still lies before ye whole and sound, / It shall carry all o' we.
   11. 14

       To make a joke, often condescendingly, at the expense of (someone)

       To make a joke, often condescendingly, at the expense of (someone); to make fun of.

       • His older cousin was just gigging him about being in love with that girl from school.
   12. 15

       Sometimes followed by it

       Sometimes followed by it: to ride in a gig (“a two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse”).

   13. 16

       A frivolous, playful, or wanton young woman

       A frivolous, playful, or wanton young woman; a giglet or giglot.

   14. 17

       Synonym of fishgig or fizgig (“a spear with a barb on the end of it, used for catching…

       Synonym of fishgig or fizgig (“a spear with a barb on the end of it, used for catching fish, frogs, or other small animals”).

       • On toward dusk some little gypsy boys whittled gigs from river-birch limbs and went to a backwater and gigged frogs until they had a basketful.
   15. 18

       To spear (fish, etc.) with a gig or fizgig.

   16. 19

       To catch or fish with a gig or fizgig.

The neighborhood

• neighborsheela-na-gig