\Jig\, n. [OF. gigue a stringed instrument, a kind of dance,
F. gigue dance, tune, gig; of German origin; cf. MHG. g[=i]ge
fiddle, G. geige. Cf. {Gig} a fiddle, {Gig} a whirligig.]
1. (Mus.) A light, brisk musical movement.
         Hot and hasty, like a Scotch jib.     -- Shak.
3. A light, humorous piece of writing, esp. in rhyme; a farce
   in verse; a ballad. [Obs.]
         A jig shall be clapped at, and every rhyme Praised
         and applauded.                        --Beau. & Fl.
4. A piece of sport; a trick; a prank. [Obs.]
         Is't not a fine jig, A precious cunning, in the late
         Protector?                            -- Beau & Fl.
5. A trolling bait, consisting of a bright spoon and a hook
   attached.
6. (Mach.)
   (a) A small machine or handy tool; esp.: (Metal Working) A
       contrivance fastened to or inclosing a piece of work,
       and having hard steel surfaces to guide a tool, as a
       drill, or to form a shield or templet to work to, as
       in filing.
   (b) (Mining) An apparatus or a machine for jigging ore.
{Drill jig}, a jig for guiding a drill. See {Jig}, 6
   (a) .
{Jig drilling}, {Jig filing} (Metal Working), a process of
   drilling or filing in which the action of the tool is
   directed or limited by a jig.
{Jig saw}, a sawing machine with a narrow, vertically
   reciprocating saw, used to cut curved and irregular lines,
   or ornamental patterns in openwork, a scroll saw; --
   called also {gig saw}.

\Jig\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Jigged}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Jigging}.]
1. To sing to the tune of a jig.
         Jig off a tune at the tongue's end.   -- Shak.
2. To trick or cheat; to cajole; to delude. --Ford.
3. (Mining) To sort or separate, as ore in a jigger or sieve.
   See {Jigging}, n.
4. (Metal Working) To cut or form, as a piece of metal, in a
   jigging machine.

\Jig\, v. i.
To dance a jig; to skip about.
      You jig, you amble, and you lisp.        -- Shak.

\Jig\, v. i.
To move with a skip or rhythm; to move with vibrations or
jerks.
      The fin would jig off slowly, as if it were looking for
      nothing at all.                          --Kipling.