1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew., s.v. Jig, a trick. . . . A pleasant jig = a witty, arch trick.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1838. Comic Almanack. And now I'm equipped for my jig, I'll finish my begging petition.
1848. Jones, Sketches of Travel, p. 14. I know'd the jig was up.
1857-8. Child, Ballads. They will play thee anither jigg, For they will out at the big rig.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 29 Dec. He knew the jig was up.
3. (old).—See Jigger.
4. (old).—Short for giglot (q.v.).
1887. Lippincott, July, p. 141. Shame on thee to say't, thou bold-faced jig.
5. (Winchester College).—A clever man: fifty years ago it meant a swindler. The word has now the meanings (i) a low joke, (ii) a swindle, (iii) an object of sport.—Notions.
1600. Heywood, 2 Edward IV. i. 1. There domineering with his drunken crew Makes jigs of us.
1652. Stapylton, Herodion (quoted in Notions). Devising with his mates to find a jigg, That he thereby might make himself a king.
Verb. (old).—1. To cheat; to delude; to impose upon.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 268. The animal was jigged, digged and figged.
2. (old). To dance.
1719. Durfey, Pills etc, iv. 124. Oh! how they do frig it, Jump it and jigg it, Under the greenwood tree.
Feather-bed (also Buttock- and Moll Peatley's) jig, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see Greens and Ride.
Jig by jowl, adv. phr. (old).—
1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, v. 293. He with his master, jig by jowl, Unto old Gillian hy'd.
Jig-a-jig, verb. (American).—To
copulate. For synonyms see
Greens and Ride.
Jigamaree, subs. (American).—A
bit of chaff; nonsense or any triviality;
a thingumbob (q.v.).
Jigga-joggy, subs. (old).—A jolting motion. Also jig-jog.
1605. Marston, Dutch Courtezan, v. 1. I bid myselfe most hartily welcome to your merry nuptials, and wanton jigga-joggies.
Jigger, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A door: also Jig, Jegger, and Gyger. Fr. une fendante; une guimbarde; une lourde. It. diorta; introibo; turlante.
1567. Harman, Caveat [E.E.T.Soc., 1869], p. 85. Dup the gygger, and maund that is bene shyp.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club's Rept. 1874) s.v. gigger, a door.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew., s.v.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, 34. Nap my kelp whilst I stall at the jegger.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1821. Haggart, Life, p. 83. The outer jigger which opens from the yard.
1839. Ainsworth, J. Sheppard, p. 20. 'Help!' ejaculated Wood, renewing his cries. 'Arrest!' 'Jigger closed!' shouted a hoarse voice in reply.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London Laid Open, p. 106. Dub the jigger, fasten the door.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, i. 342. 'Such men are always left outside the jigger (door) of the houses.'
