To remove from a gig or performance position; to dismiss or dislodge someone from an engagement.
From dis- (prefix meaning to reverse or remove) + gig (a performance or engagement). Gig itself comes from 18th-century slang, possibly from giggle or a light vehicle. The dis- prefix added the sense of removal or negation.
This word shows how modern slang creates verbs by adding prefixes—'dis-' was everywhere in 1990s hip-hop to mean 'disrespect,' but it's actually been used in English for centuries to reverse meanings, making old-fashioned words sound contemporary.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.