rig
pronunciation
How to pronounce rig in British English:
UK [rɪɡ]
How to pronounce rig in American English:
US [rɪɡ]
-
- Noun:
- gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise
- a truck consisting of a tractor and trailer together
- formation of masts, spars, sails, etc., on a vessel
- a set of clothing (with accessories)
- gear used in fishing
- a vehicle with four wheels drawn by two or more horses
- the act of swindling by some fraudulent scheme
-
- Verb:
- arrange the outcome of by means of deceit
- manipulate in a fraudulent manner
- connect or secure to
- equip with sails, masts, etc.
Word Origin
- rig (v.)
- late 15c., originally nautical, "to fit with sails," probably from a Scandinavian source (compare Danish, Norwegian rigge "to equip," Swedish rigga "to rig, harness"), though these may be from English; perhaps ultimately from PIE *reig- "to bind." Slang meaning "to pre-arrange or tamper with results" is attested from 1938, perhaps a different word, from rig (n.) "a trick, swindle, scheme" (1775), earlier "sport, banter, ridicule" (1725), of unknown origin. Also there is rig (v.) "ransack" from 1560s, likewise of unknown origin. Related: Rigged; rigging.
- rig (n.)
- "distinctive arrangement of sails, masts, etc. on a ship," 1822, from rig (v.). Extended to costume, clothing outfit (1843); horse-drawn vehicle (1831), which led to sense of "truck, bus, etc." (1851); and apparatus for well-sinking (1875).
Example
- 1. When the kremlin decided to rig the ballot openly , fury boiled over .
- 2. In bulgaria brazen attempts to rig a nuclearpower tender seem to have left politicians helpless .
- 3. At worst , locusts use their wealth and knowledge to rig the game to their advantage .
- 4. They rig the game in other ways , too , enjoying privileged access to land and permits .
- 5. A complex piece of machinery such as an oil rig or a nuclear reactor sometimes malfunctions .