dial. or colloq. Also jigg-, gig-. [An arbitrary humorous formation f. JIG sb. (senses 5–6): cf. JIGGUMBOB, also whigmaleerie, and the like.]
1. (See quots.)
1847–78. Halliwell, Jiggamaree, a manœuvre. Var. dial.
1864. Webster, Jiggamaree, a sportive or cunning trick; a maneuver. (Colloq. and low.)
1890. Cent. Dict., Jigamaree.
2. A fanciful contrivance, which the speaker thinks ridiculous or worthless.
1844. [W. T. Thompson], Major Jones’s Courtship (1852), 116 (Bartlett). Mary was sowin something mighty fine and white with ruffles and jigamarees all round it. Ibid. (1848), Major Jones Sk. Travel, 8–9 (Farmer). Byin fineries and northern gigamarees of one kind another.
a. 1860. N. Y. Spirit of the Times (Bartlett). The ‘housekeeper’s friend,’ that ere jigamaree the wimmin scrubs with, instead of going on their hands and knees as they used to.
