gig

Meanings

Plural: gig, gigs

Noun

• long and light rowing boat; especially for racing
• an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
• a cluster of hooks (without barbs) that is drawn through a school of fish to hook their bodies; used when fish are not biting
• tender that is a light ship's boat; often for personal use of captain
• small two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage; with two seats and no hood
• a booking for musicians
  • "they played a gig in New Jersey"
• Originally (music), a performing engagement by a musician or musical group; (by extension, film, television, theater) a job or role for a performer.
• Any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.
• A demerit received for some infraction of a military deportment or dress code.
• Clipping of gigabyte (“one billion (1,000,000,000) bytes”).
• Any unit of measurement having the SI prefix giga-.
• 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.
• A person with an odd appearance; also, a foolish person.
• Senses relating to enjoyment.
• Fun; frolics.
• Senses relating to enjoyment.
• A fanciful impulse; a whim; also, a joke.
• Senses relating to vehicles.
• A small, narrow, open boat carried in a larger ship, and used for transportation between the ship and the shore, another vessel, etc.
• Senses relating to vehicles.
• A similar rowing boat or sailboat, especially one used for racing; specifically, a six-oared sea rowing boat commonly found in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
• Senses relating to vehicles.
• A two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse.
• A frivolous, playful, or wanton young woman; a giglet or giglot.
• Synonym of fishgig or fizgig (“a spear with a barb on the end of it, used for catching fish, frogs, or other small animals”).

Verb

• To play (a musical instrument) at a gig.
• To impose a demerit (on someone) for an infraction of a military deportment or dress code.
• To engage in a musical performance, act in a theatre production, etc.
• To work at any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.
• To make a joke, often condescendingly, at the expense of (someone); to make fun of.
• Sometimes followed by it: to ride in a gig (“a two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse”).
• To spear (fish, etc.) with a gig or fizgig.
• To catch or fish with a gig or fizgig.

Synonyms

fishgig, fizgig, lance, spear

Related Words

sheela-na-gig