Now dial. Forms: 4–6 wygge, 5–8 wigg, 6–7 wigge, (8 whigg, 8–9 whig), 7– wig. [a. MLG., MDu. wigge (Westphalian wigge, Du. wig) wedge, wedge-shaped cake, by-form of MLG. etc. wegge (see WEDGE sb.).] A kind of bun or small cake made of fine flour.
1376. Munim. Gildh. Lond. (Rolls), III. 424. Cum uno pane de obolo, vocato ‘wygge.’
1413. Maldon, Essex, Crt.-rolls, Bundle 8 No. 1 (MS.). Ponderatores panis presentant quod … panis wastell pistoris de Writle in defectu xs; item, le wigg ejusdem in defectu, xs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 526/2. Wygge, brede (P. or bunne brede).
1528. More, Dyaloge, II. xi. (1529), 63 b/2. Some wax dronk in lent of wygges & craknels.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, V. xx. 710. The workers in pastrie do vse the rising of beere to make their wigs withall.
1620. J. Taylor (Water P.), Jack a Lent, C j b. His round halfepenny loaues are transformd into sq[u]are wiggs, (which wigges like drunkards are drownd in their Ale).
1664. Pepys, Diary, 8 April. Home to the only Lenten supper I have had of wiggs and ale.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. vi. 293/2. A … Wigg is White Bread moulded long ways, and thick in the middle.
1769. Mrs. Raffald, Engl. Housekpr. (1778), 285. Toast a light wig.
1810. A. Boswell, Edin., 163. Rich Whigs and Cookies smoke upon the board.
1888. Mrs. H. Ward, Robt. Elsmere, ii. An exasperating belief in the sufficiency of buttered ‘whigs’ and home-made marmalade for all requirements!
