Meanings
comparative more riggish · superlative most riggish
- archaicWanton, lewd, or tomboyish
The wanton gesticulations of a virgin in a wild assembly of gallants warmed with wine, could be no other than riggish, and unmaidenly.
1612–1634, [Joseph Hall], “(please specify the page)”, in [Contemplations vpon the Principall Passages of the Holy Storie], volume (please specify |volume=I to VIII), London, →OCLC3 more examples
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Become themselves in her: that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.
c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)Dr Quintal saw them to the door, giving Rita a shrug and a sardonic grimace as she went, implying that he was not the dupe of her riggish rejection of a casual love affair.
1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 180“The matchmaker agrees that your having a position at Court will improve your chances, but she warned that you must be exceedingly careful of your reputation. Court society is known to be riggish.”
2008, Sandra Gulland, Mistress of the Sun, page 126
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
From rig (“a wanton girl”) + -ish.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
riggish. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/riggish
“riggish.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/riggish. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “riggish,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/riggish.
Source: riggish on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.