jigger
jigger Lexical Profile
jigger Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, often double-ended conical cup or vessel used by bartenders to measure shots of liquor, typically holding 1.5 fluid ounces (about 44 milliliters).
"The bartender used a stainless steel jigger to measure out equal parts of gin and vermouth."
A minute parasitic tropical flea (Tunga penetrans, family Tungidae) native to Central and South America, whose fertilized females burrow into the skin of humans and other mammals, causing intense itching and inflammation; also applied loosely to the harvest mite or chigger.
"Walkers on tropical beaches are advised to wear shoes to prevent a jigger from burrowing into their feet."
Any of various mechanical devices that operate with a jerking or reciprocating motion, such as a potter's wheel attachment for shaping clay, an ore-washing sieve, or a light nautical tackle consisting of a double and single block.
"The ceramics factory relied on a mechanized jigger to rapidly shape hundreds of identical porcelain plates."
An unspecified gadget, contraption, or small mechanical device whose exact name is forgotten or unknown.
"Hand me that little metal jigger on the workbench so I can pry open the lid."
• verb
North American To rearrange, manipulate, or tamper with something, often in an improvised, clever, or slightly dishonest manner in order to achieve a desired result.
"The technician had to jigger the wiring just to get the old projector running for the presentation."
To shape or form moist clay on a rotating potter's wheel using a profiled mechanical template.
"After wedging the clay, the apprentice learned how to jigger uniform saucers on the wheel."
• Rhymes for jigger
Word Origin & Etymology
The general senses meaning a gadget, bartender's measure, or jerking tool derive from the verb 'jig' plus the suffix '-er'. The sense referring to the parasitic sand flea is an alteration of 'chigger' (from Cariban 'chigoe').