jigger

/ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/

//ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"jigger" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“jigger” is an uncommon English word, ranked #83,387 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#83,387
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A double-ended vessel, generally of stainless steel or other metal, one end of which typically measures 1½ fluid ounces (approx. 44 ml), the other typically 1 fluid ounce (approx. 30 ml).

Key facts for jigger
PropertyValue
Headwordjigger
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#83,387
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “jigger” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). jigger lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for jigger is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/. Corpus data places it at rank #83,387 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 24 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

jigger doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From jig + -er (agent suffix). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary suggests a possible link to Old High German gīga (“fiddle”). The correct English form is jigger, spelled J-I-G-G-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A double-ended vessel, generally of stainless steel or other metal, one end of which typically measures 1½ fluid ounces (approx. 44 ml), the other typically 1 fluid ounce (approx. 30 ml).
  2. 2
    A measure of 1½ fluid ounces (approx. 44 ml) of liquor.
  3. 3
    A drink of whiskey.
  4. 4
    The sieve used in sorting or separating ore.
  5. 5
    One who jigs; a miner who sorts or cleans ore by the process of jigging.
  6. 6
    A horizontal lathe used in producing flatware.
  7. 7
    A device used in the dyeing of cloth.
  8. 8
    A pendulum rolling machine for slicking or graining leather.
  9. 9
    A bicycle.
  10. 10
    A golf club used to play low flying shots to the putting green from short distances.
  11. 11
    A warehouse crane.
  12. 12
    A light tackle, consisting of a double and single block and the fall, used for various purposes, as to increase the purchase on a topsail sheet in hauling it home; the watch tackle.
  13. 13
    A jiggermast.
  14. 14
    A small fishing vessel, rigged like a yawl.
  15. 15
    A device used by fishermen to set their nets under the ice of frozen lakes.
  16. 16
    One who dances jigs; an odd-looking person.
  17. 17
    A short board or plank inserted into a tree for a person to stand on while cutting off higher branches.
  18. 18
    A placeholder name for any small mechanical device.
  19. 19
    A railway jigger, a small motorized or human powered vehicle used by railway workers to traverse railway tracks.
  20. 20
    The bridge or rest for the cue in billiards.
  21. 21
    An illicit electric shock device used to urge on a horse during a race.
  22. 22
    A streetcar drawn by a single horse.
  23. 23
    A kind of early electric cash register.
  24. 24
    A total station or its predecessor, a theodolite.

Etymology

From jig + -er (agent suffix). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary suggests a possible link to Old High German gīga (“fiddle”).

Synonyms

jolleyjiggermastponythingamajigdoojiggerthingyhandcarspeeder

This word in other languages

dedo(Español)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "jigger"?
"jigger" is spelled J-I-G-G-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/.
What does "jigger" mean?
As a noun, "jigger" means: A double-ended vessel, generally of stainless steel or other metal, one end of which typically measures 1½ fluid ounces (approx. 44 ml), the other typically 1 fluid ounce (approx. 30 ml).
How do you pronounce "jigger"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "jigger" is /ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "jigger"?
From jig + -er (agent suffix). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary suggests a possible link to Old High German gīga (“fiddle”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “jigger”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is J-I-G-G-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈd͡ʒɪɡɚ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list