jig

jig · noun, verb¹

1. Old French · derived fromgigue“a fiddle”
2. Middle English · inherited fromgyge“fiddle”
3. English todayjig

Unknown. Derivation from Middle English gyge (“fiddle”), from Old French gigue (“a fiddle”) has been proposed, but the connection and sense development are obscure. The sense “a type of dance” of modern French gigue is borrowed from English.

jig · noun²

Probably a clipping of jigaboo, of uncertain origin, perhaps an African/Bantu word. Alternatively, jigaboo may be derived from jig (“dance”).

Words from the same roots