Jiggy

/ˈdʒɪɡi/ adjective

Definition

Slang for lively, energetic, or fun; ready to dance or have a good time; also means to move with quick, jerky motions.

Etymology

From 'jig,' a lively folk dance, plus '-y' suffix. 'Jig' itself came from French 'gigue' in the 1500s. The slang sense 'with it, lively' developed in the 1800s, popularized in hip-hop and rap music in the 1990s.

Kelly Says

Will Smith made 'jiggy' iconic with his 1997 hit 'Gettin' Jiggy wit It,' but the word has roots way deeper in hip-hop and African American Vernacular English. That one song probably taught more people the word than centuries of folk dancing could have!

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