# zigzag

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/ · frequency rank #36,408

## Definitions
1. A line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in alternating directions.
2. One of these sharp turns.

## Etymology
Attested from 1712. Borrowed from French zigzag (attested from 1662), possibly from a Germanic source via Walloon ziczac (although German Zickzack is attested only from 1703). Also, possibly from the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word. Sense “drunk” from the zigzag movements of a drunk person.

## Common misspellings (9)
`izgzag`, `zgizag`, `zigazg`, `ziggzag`, `zigzagg`, `zigzga`, `zigzzag`, `zizgag`, `zzigzag`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/zigzag