jig

I. noun Etymology: perhaps from Middle French giguer to frolic, from gigue fiddle, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gīga fiddle; akin to Old Norse geiga to turn aside Date: circa 1560 1. a. any of several lively springy dances in triple rhythm b. music to which a jig may be danced 2. trick, game — used chiefly in the phrase the jig is up 3. a. any of several fishing devices that are jerked up and down or drawn through the water b. a device used to maintain mechanically the correct positional relationship between a piece of work and the tool or between parts of work during assembly c. a device in which crushed ore is concentrated or coal is cleaned by agitating in water II. verb (jigged; jigging) Date: 1604 intransitive verb 1. a. to move with rapid jerky motions b. to dance a jig 2. to fish with a jig transitive verb 1. to dance in the rapid lively manner of a jig 2. a. to give a rapid jerky motion to b. to separate (a mineral or ore from waste) with a jig 3. to catch (a fish) with a jig 4. to machine by means of a jig-controlled tool operation III. noun Etymology: short for jigaboo black person Date: 1927 usually offensive black 4