whig
[ hwig, wig ]
/ ʰwɪg, wɪg /
verb (used without object), whigged, whig·ging. Scot.
to move along briskly.
Origin of whig
1660–70; perhaps Scots variant of dial.
fig to move briskly; see
fidget
Words nearby whig
whiffet,
whiffle,
whiffler,
whiffletree,
whiffy,
whig,
whig party,
whiggish,
whiggism,
whigmaleerie,
whigmaleery
Definition for whig (2 of 2)
Whig
[ hwig, wig ]
/ ʰwɪg, wɪg /
noun
American History.
- a member of the patriotic party during the Revolutionary period; supporter of the Revolution.
- a member of a political party (c1834–1855) that was formed in opposition to the Democratic Party, and favored economic expansion and a high protective tariff, while opposing the strength of the presidency in relation to the legislature.
British Politics.
- a member of a major political party (1679–1832) in Great Britain that held liberal principles and favored reforms: later called the Liberal party.
- (in later use) one of the more conservative members of the Liberal party.
adjective
being a Whig.
of, relating to, or characteristic of the Whigs.
Origin of Whig
1635–45; earlier, a Covenanter, hence an opponent of the accession of James II; of uncertain origin, though probably in part a shortening of
whiggamaire (later
whiggamore), a participant in the
Whiggamore Raid a march against the royalists in Edinburgh launched by Covenanters in 1648 (said to represent
whig to spur on (cf.
whig) +
maire
mare1)
OTHER WORDS FROM Whig
pro-Whig, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for whig
British Dictionary definitions for whig
Whig
/ (wɪɡ) /
noun
adjective
of, characteristic of, or relating to Whigs
Derived forms of Whig
Whiggery or Whiggism, noun Whiggish, adjective Whiggishly, adverb Whiggishness, nounWord Origin for Whig
C17: probably shortened from
whiggamore, one of a group of 17th-century Scottish rebels who joined in an attack on Edinburgh known as
the whiggamore raid; probably from Scottish
whig to drive (of obscure origin) +
more, mer, maire horse,
mare
1