gig

GIG/ɡɪɡ/

Pluralgigs, gig

Verbgigs, gigging, gigged

17 meanings of gig

Practice

1
performer's jobnouncolloquialcountable
A paid job to perform music, act, or put on some other kind of show.
Like a single show or job a performer does before moving on to the next one.
The band landed a gig at the new club downtown.
She got her first acting gig in a small television drama.
UsageYou play a gig, or get a gig at a club.
Similarbooking, show, engagement, job
Note
2
temporary jobnouncolloquialcountable
A job, especially a short one or freelance work done when it is needed.
Like odd jobs you do for a while instead of one steady job.
He picked up a weekend gig delivering groceries.
Driving for the app is just a gig until she finds full-time work.
UsagePeople also say a steady gig. In formal writing, say job.
Similarjob, assignment, contract
Note
3
verbcolloquialintransitive
To play music or perform live for an audience, usually for pay.
Like a singer doing one show, then another somewhere else.
The band gigs every Friday at the corner pub.
They love to gig in small clubs around the city.
UsageOften gigging around a town or across a country.
Similarperform, play
4
billion unitsnounslangcountable
A short, informal name for any unit that uses 'giga,' meaning a billion of that unit.
Like calling a kilogram a 'kilo' for short.
The old computer's processor ran at just one gig.
She downloaded several gigs of music over the weekend.
UsageSay five gigs of data. In formal writing, use five gigabytes or 5 GB.
Similargigabyte, gigahertz
Note

Less common meanings

5
work short jobsverbcolloquialintransitive
To work at short or freelance jobs instead of one steady job.
Like picking up small jobs here and there instead of one fixed job.
He gigs for a delivery app when he needs extra cash.
Plenty of people gig instead of taking a regular job.
UsageSay gig for a company or app.
Similarfreelance, temp
6
nouncountable
A long, light, narrow boat moved by oars, used to carry people from a ship or for racing.
Like a small rowboat that a big ship carries for short trips.
The sailors lowered the gig to row the captain ashore.
They kept a small gig lashed to the deck for trips between vessels.
UsageOften in captain's gig.
Note
7
black marknouncolloquialUScountable
A black mark given to a soldier for breaking a rule about dress or behavior.
Like getting a black mark at school for breaking a rule.
The recruit got a gig for his messy uniform.
Two more gigs and he would lose his weekend pass.
UsageYou get a gig for doing something wrong.
Similardemerit
Note
8
give black markverbcolloquialUStransitive
To give a soldier a black mark for breaking a dress or behavior rule.
Like a teacher marking you down for breaking a rule.
The sergeant gigged him for his untied boots.
Inspectors will gig you for a wrinkled uniform.
UsageSay gig someone for something.
9
horse cartnounhistoricalcountable
A light, two-wheeled cart pulled by one horse.
Like a simple horse-drawn version of a small two-seat car.
The doctor drove his gig along the muddy lane to reach the farm.
Here a coach thundered over the pavement, and there an unwieldy omnibus, with spruce gigs rattling past, and horsemen prancing through all the bustle.
1837, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “[Tales and Sketches.] Fragments from the Journal of a Solitary Man.”Here, gigs means light two-wheeled carriages pulled by one horse.
Note
10
fishing spearnouncountable
A spear with a sharp, hooked point, used to catch fish, frogs, or other small animals.
Like a fork on the end of a long stick for catching fish.
He made a gig from a long pole and a sharp metal point.
She used a gig to catch frogs in the shallow pond.
Similarfishgig, fizgig
Note
11
verbtransitive
To catch fish or frogs with a spear.
Like spearing a fish with a sharp, hooked tool instead of catching it on a line.
They gig flounder along the coast every summer.
He gigged a large frog near the edge of the lake.
Similarspear
12
teaseverbcolloquialtransitive
To make fun of someone, often in an unkind or teasing way.
Like teasing a friend to get a laugh from everyone else.
The older kids would gig him about his haircut.
She gigged her brother for tripping over the rug.
UsageSay gig someone about something.
Similartease, rib, needle, mock
13
nounarchaicBritish
An old word for fun, a joke, or a sudden silly idea.
Such was his toil, when one night coming home, / Such swell uncivil, who'd been out to roam / In search of lark, or some delicious gig / The mind delights in, when 'tis in prime twig,—
1820, Richard Ranger, “Randall; a Fragment. With Notes”Here, gig means fun or a joke, something done just for a laugh.
Note
14
nounarchaicBritish
Someone who looks strange, or who behaves in a silly way.
Note
15
nounobsolete
A spinning top that you start by wrapping string around it and throwing it.
From infancy through childhood's giddy maze, / Frovvard at ſchool, and fretful in his plays, / The puny tyrant burns to ſubjugate / The free republic of the vvhip-gig ſtate.
1782, William Cowper, “Hope”Here, whip-gig means a spinning top that children keep going with a whip.
Peda[nt]. Thou diſputes like an Infant: goe vvhip thy Gigg. / Pag[e]. Lende me your Horne to make one, and I vvill vvhip about your Infamie vnũ cita a gigge of a Cuckolds horne.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called
Note
16
nounobsolete
A silly or flirty young woman who likes to play around.
Note
17
verb
To ride in a small two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of gig apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5, 7–8

Where the noun came from is not known. The verb comes from the noun.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The noun's origin is unknown. en.wiktionary.org
The verb derives from the noun. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 4

One sense is a short form of "gigabyte"; another is a short form of "giga-", a prefix meaning one billion times.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

One sense of gig is a short form of gigabyte. en.wiktionary.org
Another sense of gig is a short form of giga-. en.wiktionary.org
The prefix giga- means one billion times. en.wikipedia.org

Meanings 6, 9, 12–15

The noun comes from Middle English gigg, gygge ("a spinning top"). Its further origin is unclear: perhaps from Old Norse, or perhaps just an imitative sound. The verb comes from the noun.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The noun comes from Middle English gigg or gygge meaning a spinning top. en.wiktionary.org
Its further origin is uncertain, with Old Norse and imitation proposed. en.wiktionary.org
The verb comes from the noun. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 16

From Middle English gig, gigge. It may come from Old French gigue ("tall, skinny girl"), itself from Old Norse gikkr ("pert person"); or from Middle English gigg ("a spinning top").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Gig derives from Middle English gig, gigge. en.wiktionary.org
Gikkr means “pert person”. en.wikisource.org
Middle English gigg, meaning a spinning top, is an alternative proposed source. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 10–11

The noun is a short form of "fishgig" or "fizgig", perhaps from Spanish fisga ("harpoon"). The verb comes from the noun.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The noun gig is a shortened form of fishgig or fizgig. en.wiktionary.org
The word possibly derives ultimately from Spanish fisga, meaning harpoon. en.wiktionary.org
The verb gig derives from the noun. en.wiktionary.org