diggings
diggings Lexical Profile
diggings Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A mine, goldfield, or archaeological site where earth is excavated in search of precious metals, minerals, or artifacts.
"Thousands of prospectors flocked to the California diggings during the height of the gold rush."
British Temporary lodgings, rented rooms, or living quarters (used informally).
"The visiting actors found comfortable diggings just a short walk from the theater."
Material, soil, or rock excavated or dug out from the ground.
"Piles of fresh diggings surrounded the entrance to the badger's burrow."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a mining site or residential lodgings, 'diggings' is a plural-form noun that can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether it is viewed as a single location or general quarters; in informal British English, the lodgings sense is commonly shortened to 'digs'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 14th century as the plural of the verbal noun 'digging' (from Middle English 'diggen', of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old English 'dīc' meaning 'ditch'). The sense of a goldfield or mining site arose in American English during the 1830s and led to the informal sense of temporary lodgings or living quarters.