wig-wag, v. colloq. or techn.
(ˈwɪgwæg)
[Reduplicated formation combining wig v.1 and wag v., the vowel-change symbolizing the alternation of movement: cf. wiggle-waggle, zig-zag.]
To move lightly to and fro, to wag; esp. to wave a flag or other object to and fro in signalling; to signal in this way (intr., or trans. with the flag, etc. or the signal as obj.). Also as adv. = with a to-and-fro movement. So ˈwig-wag n., (a) an act of ‘wig-wagging’; also attrib. (in quot. 1582 expressing a tortuous or writhing movement); (b) in Watchmaking, a polishing instrument to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by a crank attached to a wheel of the lathe. Hence ˈwig-ˌwagger, one who ‘wig-wags’; ˈwig-ˌwaggy a., characterized by ‘wig-wagging’, or by a form suggestive of this; tortuous, winding.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 50 His midil embracing with wig wag circuled hooping. 1846 Congress. Globe 16 Jan. 208/1 Wig-wag went her tail. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Wigwag (Watch-making), a rubbing-instrument..driven by the lathe. 1884 Britten Watch & Clockm. 203 Where pinions are made in large quantities the polisher is actuated by a ‘Wig Wag’. 1886 Sci. Amer. 9 Jan. 16/2 In the army wig-wag system, a flag moved to right and left [etc.]. 1892 Lippincott's Mag. Dec. 764, I requested Lieutenant Marix to ‘wigwag to signal’ to Captain Whiting. 1893 C. King Foes in Ambush 10 It's ten minutes since I got the last wig-wag of the signal-flag. 1899 R. H. Davis Cuban & Porto Rican Campaigns 3 Wig-waggers beat the air from the bridges. 1903 A. Adams Log Cowboy xx. 313 Some one in the lead wig-wagged his lantern. 1914 Blackw. Mag. July 96/2 The path is beastly wig-waggy. |