Jig (?), n. [OF. gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance, F. gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; cf. MHG. gīge fiddle, G. geige. Cf. Gig a fiddle, Gig a whirligig.]
1. (Mus.) A light, brisk musical movement.
Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig. Shak.
3. A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce in verse; a ballad.
A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme
Praised and applauded. Beau. & Fl.
4. A piece of sport; a trick; a prank.
Is't not a fine jig,
A precious cunning, in the late Protector? Beau. & Fl.
5. A trolling bait, consisting of a bright spoon and a hook attached.
6. (Mach.) (a) A small machine or handy tool; esp.: (Metal Working) A contrivance fastened to or inclosing a piece of work, and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as in filing. (b) (Mining) An apparatus or a machine for jigging ore.
Drill jig, a jig for guiding a drill. See Jig, 6 (a). — Jig drilling, Jig filing(Metal Working), a process of drilling or filing in which the action of the tool is directed or limited by a jig. — Jig saw, a sawing machine with a narrow, vertically reciprocating saw, used to cut curved and irregular lines, or ornamental patterns in openwork, a scroll saw; — called also gig saw.