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jigger

noun

  1. textile machine
L322818 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/ / /ˈd͡ʒɪɡə/

noun

Etymology: A slang term of unknown origin, originally meaning prison. Oxford English Dictionary suggests that its origin might be the same as Etymology 1, above.

  1. A prison; a jail cell.

    According to a disciplinary notice, a correctional officer saw a "jigger string" coming from cell H-2 to Harper's cell. A jigger string is used to move objects between cells.

  2. An alleyway separating the backs of two rows of houses.

    "It's jus' through this jigger and round the back of the next block." She hurried through the alleyway in front of me; the pressing back-yard walls prevented anything more than single file.

  3. The penis.

    Well, they saw a little boy on the street and his penis was hanging out and they said his "jigger" was hanging out, and I said, "Well, maybe his mother didn't tell him differently."

  4. A vagina.

    A tiny pulse from Lisette's thigh beat under my ear: stroke, stroke, stroke. I contemplated the thick red bush of her jigger, so close to my face.

  5. A door.

    On getting to the top of the stair, to my disappointment there was a padlock upon the garret jigger; I wheep't out my chive, broke it up, and picked the padlock with the back-spring.

    "Crash the cull—down with him—down with him before he dubs the jigger. Tip him the degan, Fib, fake him through and through; if he pikes we shall all be scragged."

  6. An illegal distillery.
  7. Ellipsis of jigger gun (“lock pick”).

    Sizing up the padlock, Mac slapped at a webbing pocket for his lock jiggers, but felt nothing.

    The question is, where did he get this jigger from? You don't buy them at ironmongers, you know.' He handled the bright instrument lovingly. As he moved the handles the two tiny levers opened and shut like the mandibles of a Picasso crab.

verb

Etymology: A slang term of unknown origin, originally meaning prison. Oxford English Dictionary suggests that its origin might be the same as Etymology 1, above.

  1. To imprison.

    ...offering to swear an alibi for the prisoner [...] to ensure an acquittal. Terms: £50 for value received. No pay if jiggered.

  2. To confound; to damn.

    jigger me, but I think you be turning jest into earnest,

    It had always been his habit to say, "I will be jiggered," but this time he said, "I am jiggered."