Jigger vs Figger - What's the difference?
jigger | figger |
(US) A double-ended vessel, generally of stainless steel or other metal, one end of which typically measures 1 1/2 fluid ounces, the other typically 1 fluid ounce.
* 2000 , Robert B. Hess,
(US) A measure of 1 1/2 fluid ounces of liquor.
(mining) The sieve used in sorting or separating ore.
(mining) One who jigs; a miner who sorts or cleans ore by the process of jigging.
(pottery) A horizontal lathe used in producing flatware.
* 2004 ,
(textiles) A device used in the dyeing of cloth.
A pendulum rolling machine for slicking or graining leather.
(golf, dated) A wooden or metal headed golf club used to play low flying shots to the putting green from short distances.
(nautical) A light tackle, consisting of a double and single block and the fall, used for various purposes, as to increase the purchase on a topsail sheet in hauling it home; the watch tackle.
(nautical) A jiggermast.
(nautical, New England) A small fishing vessel, rigged like a yawl.
(fishing) A device used by fishermen to set their nets under the ice of frozen lakes.
(archaic) One who dances jigs; an odd-looking person.
(New Zealand) A short board or plank inserted into tree for a person to stand on while cutting off higher branches.
(US) A placeholder name for any small mechanical device.
To alter or adjust, particularly in ways not originally intended.
(pottery) To use a jigger.
A sandflea, Tunga penetrans , of the order Siphonaptera; chigoe.
A larva of any of several mites in the family ; chigger, harvest mite.
(slang, archaic) A prison; a jail cell.
(dialect, Scouse, dated) An alleyway separating the backs of two rows of houses.
(slang, euphemism) A penis.
(slang, euphemism) A vagina.
(slang) A door.
(slang) An illegal distillery.
(slang, obsolete) To imprison.
* 1870 , J.T. Campion, "Billy in the Bowl", The Shamrock volume 8, page 107:
(slang, archaic) To confound; to damn.
* 1831 , John Banim, The Smuggler page 231:
* 1887 , Frances Hodgson Burnett, Little Lord Fauntleroy page 173:
As nouns the difference between jigger and figger
is that jigger is (us) a double-ended vessel, generally of stainless steel or other metal, one end of which typically measures 1 1/2 fluid ounces, the other typically 1 fluid ounce or jigger can be a sandflea, tunga penetrans , of the order siphonaptera; chigoe or jigger can be (slang|archaic) a prison; a jail cell while figger is .As verbs the difference between jigger and figger
is that jigger is to alter or adjust, particularly in ways not originally intended or jigger can be (slang|obsolete) to imprison while figger is .jigger
English
Etymology 1
Agent noun of the verb jig. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary suggests a possible link to (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)drinkboy.com:
- A good jigger will have a well formed lip that will pour a clean stream into the cocktail shaker or glass.
thepotteries.org, "Jiggering":
- Hand jiggers consisted of two iron frames with a spindle in each - the driving spindle with its iron belt pulley approximately 20 inches in diameter and the driven spindle with a small wooden pulley.
Synonyms
* (pottery lathe) jolley * (nautical mast) jiggermast * (measure of liquor) pony * (placeholder name) thingamajig; doojiggerVerb
(en verb)- You'll have to jigger it from the original specifications to get it to work.
Synonyms
* (use a pottery jigger) jolleyDerived terms
* jiggerer * jiggeredSee also
* fudge * tweakEtymology 2
Likely a corruption of chigoe. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary suggests a possible derivation from (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)Etymology 3
A slang term of unknown origin, originally meaning prison. Oxford English Dictionary suggests that its origin might be the same as , above.Noun
(en noun)Verb
(en verb)- ...offering to swear an alibi'' for the prisoner [...] to ensure an acquittal. Terms: £50 for value received. No pay if ''jiggered .
- jigger me, but I think you be turning jest into earnest,
- It had always been his habit to say, "I will'' be jiggered'''," but this time he said, "I ''am'' ' jiggered ."