jig

/dʒɪg/

/dʒɪg/

Other forms: jigs; jigging; jigged

A jig is a lively, festive kind of dance. When you do a jig, you spend a lot of time hopping, kicking, and shuffling your feet.

The jig is mainly associated with Ireland and Scotland, and it plays a big role in both traditional Irish dancing and Scottish country dancing. The jig also influenced 20th century African American tap and soft-shoe dance styles. You can also call the type of tune that's played to accompany the dance a jig. The source of jig is most likely the Middle French giguer, "to dance" or "to jump."

Definitions of jig

1. noun

   any of various old rustic dances involving kicking and leaping
   type of:

   folk dance, folk dancing

   a style of dancing that originated among ordinary people (not in the royal courts)
2. noun

   music in three-four time for dancing a jig
   synonyms: gigue

   type of:

   dance music

   music to dance to
3. verb

   dance a quick dance with leaping and kicking motions
   type of:

   dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe

   move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance
4. noun

   a device that holds a piece of machine work and guides the tools operating on it
   type of:

   device

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
5. noun

   a fisherman's lure with one or more hooks that is jerked up and down in the water
   type of:

   fish lure, fisherman's lure

   (angling) any bright artificial bait consisting of plastic or metal mounted with hooks and trimmed with feathers