What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Rig vs Gadget - What's the difference?

rig | gadget |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between rig and gadget

is that rig is (obsolete) a blast of wind while gadget is (obsolete) a thing whose name cannot be remembered; thingamajig, doohickey.

As nouns the difference between rig and gadget

is that rig is (slang|nautical) the rigging of a sailing ship or other such craft or rig can be (uk|scotland|dialect) a ridge or rig can be (obsolete) a wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct while gadget is (obsolete) a thing whose name cannot be remembered; thingamajig, doohickey.

As a verb rig

is to fit out with a harness or other equipment.

rig

English

(wikipedia rig)

Etymology 1

Probably of Scandinavian origin. Compare Norwegian .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (slang, nautical) The rigging of a sailing ship or other such craft.
  • Special equipment or gear used for a particular purpose.
  • * The climbers each had a different rig for climbing that particular rockface.
  • (US) A large truck such as a semi-tractor.
  • * Every rig at the truckstop had custom-made mud-flaps.
  • The special apparatus used for drilling wells.
  • (informal) A costume or an outfit.
  • * My sister and I always made our own rigs for Halloween.
  • (slang, computing) A computer case, often modified for looks.
  • * 2004 , Radford Castro, Let Me Play: Stories of Gaming and Emulation (page 104)
  • When I saw a special version of Quake running on Voodoo hardware, I knew I would be forking out quite a bit of money on my gaming rig .
  • An imperfectly castrated horse, sheep etc.
  • (slang) Radio]] equipment, especially a [[CB radio, citizen's band transceiver.
  • Verb

  • To fit out with a harness or other equipment.
  • (nautical) To equip and fit (a ship) with sails, shrouds, and yards.
  • (informal) To dress or clothe in some costume.
  • To make or construct something in haste or in a makeshift manner.
  • To manipulate something dishonestly for personal gain or discriminatory purposes.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Schumpeter
  • , title= Cronies and capitols , passage=Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult.
  • (obsolete) To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks.
  • * 1616 , (George Chapman), The Hymn to (Hermes), in ''The Whole Works of (Homer) (tr.),
  • Rigging and rifling all ways, and no noise / Made with thy soft feet, where it all destroys.
  • (obsolete) To make free with; hence, to steal; to pilfer.
  • (Tusser)

    Etymology 2

    See ridge.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, Scotland, dialect) A ridge.
  • Etymology 3

    Compare wriggle.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct.
  • (Fuller)
  • (obsolete) A sportive or unbecoming trick; a frolic.
  • * Cowper
  • He little dreamt when he set out / Of running such a rig .
  • (obsolete) A blast of wind.
  • * Burke
  • that uncertain season before the rigs of Michaelmas were yet well composed.
    (Wright)
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    gadget

    English

    (wikipedia gadget)

    Alternative forms

    * gadjet

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) a thing whose name cannot be remembered; thingamajig, doohickey
  • * 1886 , Robert Brown, Spunyard and Spindrift, A Sailor Boy's Log of a Voyage Out and Home in a China Tea-clipper :
  • Then the names of all the other things on board a ship! I don't know half of them yet; even the sailors forget at times, and if the exact name of anything they want happens to slip from their memory, they call it a chicken-fixing, or a gadjet , or a timmey-noggy, or a wim-wom—just pro tem. , you know.
  • any device or machine, especially one whose name cannot be recalled. Often either clever or complicated.
  • He bought a neat new gadget for shredding potatoes.
    That's quite a lot of gadgets you have collected. Do you use any of them?

    Synonyms

    * contraption * contrivance * doohickey * gizmo * widget

    Derived terms

    * gadgety

    Anagrams

    * English placeholder terms ----