Etymology Dictionary

JIG,  a lively tune or dance.  (F.,—M.H.G.)   As sb. in Shak. Much Ado, ii. 1. 77; Hamlet, ii. 2. 522.   As vb., Hamlet, iii. 1. 150.—O.F. gige, gigue, a sort of wind instrument, a kind of dance (Roquefort); but it was rather a stringed instrument, as noted by Littré and Burguy; which may be verified by consulting Dante's use of the Ital. giga in Paradiso, xiv. 118.   Cf. Span. giga, a jig, lively tune or dance; Ital. giga, 'a fiddle, a croud, a kit, a violin' (Florio).—M.H.G. gíge, mod. G. geige, a fiddle.   β. Allied to M.E. gigge, a whirling thing (cf. E. whirligig); and perhaps to Jog.   Cf. 'This hous was al so ful of gigges' = this house was as full of irregular sounds; Chaucer, Ho. of Fame, iii. 852.   See Gig, Giglet.  Der. jig, verb, jig-maker, Hamlet, iii. 2. 131.   Doublet, gig, q.v.