atw: Re: First Gig Coming Up - Update Re: austechwriter Digest V4 #37

Bill said:
> I now pose the obvious ( to me ) question as to why musicians,
> I think originally in the USA in the 1950s  (???) came to use
> the word gig.

My Oxford is no help, but my Macquarie gives some alternative meanings that might offer a hint:
to taunt, or provoke
a fool or meddler
to watch or stare
an observer or witness
a stickybeak
It also says the origin is unknown, except that the origin of 'gig' as the name of a particular type of fishing rig is derived from 'fizgig', which is derived from 'fizga' or 'fisga', Spanish for 'harpoon'.

My Webster makes another suggestion: There's a Norwegian word 'gig' that means 'to shake about'. It also gives 'gig' as a report or punishment for a minor infraction of school or army regulations.

I suppose it depends on how much you like live entertainment.  :-)

Allan
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