rig n.1
1. a wanton, promiscuous woman; thus used as an insult for any woman (see cite 1832).
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Gammer Gurton’s Needle in Whitworth (1997) III iii: Nay, fie on thee, thou ramp, thou rig. | |
| Skialetheia Satire III n.p.: My Muse shall play the rig Once in her dayes, but shee shall quittance thee . | |
| Wittes Pilgr. in Works II 49/2: The most voluptuous ouer-wanton Rigge, Proud Plentie, scornes meeke Pieties Woman-hood . | |
| ‘A Pleasant Country Maying Song’ in Pepys Ballads (1929–32) This pretty maiden waxeth big: / See what ’tis ti play the Rig. | |
 | Pisgah sight of Palestine (1869) 539: Let none condemn them for Rigs, because thus hoiting with boys . | |
| (trans.) Pantagruelian Prognostications (1927) II 694: Those whom Venus is said to rule [...] light skirts, wrigglers, misses, cats, rigs. | |
| View of London & Westminster (2nd part) 51: [in a list of prostitutes] Miss Rigg [Is Visited] By a Shopkeeper in the City. | |
| quoted by Theodore Hook in Odd People ‘An Honest Practical Joke’ n.p.: Now all my wig-singeing, and nose-blacking exploits, will be completely outdone by the rig [that was the favourite word in the year 1739] I shall run upon this unhappy devil with the tarnished lace [F&H]. | |
| ‘O Can Ye Labour Lee, Young Man?’ in Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 259: A stibble rig is easy plough’d / The fallow land is free. | |
| ‘The Blue Lion’ in (1975) I 31: Such songs, such gigs, such flashy rigs. | |
| Satirist (London) 28 Oct. 346/2: Ah, ah, you call me teef; vot do I vant to be teef for. ’Tis you be de teef, old Rig. | |
| ‘Hurrah For An Irishman’s Sprig!’ in Cockchafer 20: Adam was an Irish man, / And Eve, as we twig, / Only notice the rig, / She was made from an Irishmnan’s sprig! |
2. a smart, ‘sharp’ young man.
| ‘Education’ in Attic Misc. 116: At ev’ry knowing rig, in ev’ry gang, / Dick Hellfinch was the pink of all the slang. | |
| ‘Sonnets for the Fancy’ in Boxiana III 621: A very knowing rig in ev’ry gang, / Dick Hellfinch was the pick of all the slang. |
In derivatives
lecherous, amorous, lascivious.
| Manipulus Vocabulorum 145/38: Riggish, licentious. | |
| Antony and Cleopatra II ii: For vilest things Become themselves in her, that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish. | |
| Falstaff’s Wedding (1766) II ix: dol: Give me a buss. fal.: Go, Dol, you are riggish. | |
| Armagh Guardian 21 June 8/1: It cannot be absolutely necessary, in order to attain a good and respctable old age, to be riggish or jiggish. | |
| My Secret Life (1966) VII 1391: Voluptuousness, lickerishness, ruttish, riggish, stupration and harlotry, all words found in the dictionary, and all of which I suppose may be classed under the term erotic. |
In phrases
(UK Und.) to enjoy oneself.
| Swell’s Night Guide 68: Aye, she lagged him for his life! ‘Now,’ said she ‘the bloak has gone in for a buster; he’s been out for many a pelter, so now ve can go the rig.’. |