gig
UK: ɡɪɡ | US: ɡɪɡ
n. 1. A live musical performance, especially by a small group or solo artist.
n. 2. A job, especially a temporary or freelance one (informal).
n. 3. A light, two-wheeled carriage (historical).
vi. To perform a musical gig.
No data yet.
The word "gig" has multiple distinct origins:
- For the musical performance sense (early 20th century), its etymology is uncertain but may derive from jazz slang, possibly shortened from "engagement."
- The informal "job" meaning (mid-20th century) likely extends from the musical sense.
- The carriage term (15th century) comes from Old Norse gigg (a small boat), later applied to lightweight vehicles.
As a monosyllabic word with unclear morpheme boundaries and no verifiable compound structure, "gig" cannot be meaningfully split under the morpheme integrity rule. It falls into the "non-splittable" category due to its compact Germanic/Norse roots and slang evolution.
The band booked a gig at the local pub next Friday.
She picked up a freelance gig as a graphic designer.
In the 1800s, aristocrats often rode in horse-drawn gigs.
He’s been gigging around the city to build his reputation.
Landing that coding gig helped pay her student loans.