Tig v.

[History obscure. It may be, as some think, a variant or alteration of TICK v.¹, or a parallel formation. Cf. the parallelism of MHG. and Ger. zecken to pat, and der zeck the game of tig (TIG sb.¹ 2).]

  1.  intr. To give light or playfully rough touches; esp. fig. to trifle, dally with; † to tig and tar = to tick and toy: see TICK v.¹ 1. Sc. and north. dial.

c. 1470.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., V. (Parl. Beasts), i. [The fox] That luifit weill with pultrie to tig and tar.

1634.  Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 140. He may get up and lend them a blow who are tigging and playing with Christ and His spouse.

1815.  G. Beattie, John o’ Arnha’ (1826), 41. It was nae joke To tig wi’ fiends that vomit smoke.

1825.  Jamieson, s.v., Young people are said to be tigging, when sporting with gentle touches, or patting each other.

  b.  fig. To interfere, meddle, have to do with. Sc.

1599.  James I., Βασιλικον Δωρον (1603), 29. As for the matter of fore-faltures,… it is not good tigging with these things.

1813.  W. Beattie, Fruits Time Parings (1871), 30. They that tig wi you Will soon hae cause to claw.

1873.  W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, xix. Nedder you nor Mr. Sleekaboot made yer plack a bawbee by tiggin wi’ her.

  2.  trans. To touch in the game of tig (TIG sb.¹ 2). Also absol. (see also b).

1821.  Blackw. Mag., Aug., 38. To join the merry ring at … Tig me if you can.

1828.  Craven Gloss., Tig, to touch lightly:… to have the last touch when leaving school.

1866.  A. W. Buchan, Song of Rest, II. 29. Some tig and run, some ride upon the wall.

1893.  E. L. Wakeman, in Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 19 Oct. The chief point in this game [French Tig] is always to tig on a portion of the body difficult to hold whilst tigging another.

  b.  intr. fig. To ‘pluck’ or ‘dig’ at, as if playing tig; to annoy one by petty provocations. dial.

1802.  R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball., 54. Now, tiggin at me suin and late, They’re cleekin but the yellow bait.

1844.  Songs of Nursery, in Whistlebinkie (1890), II. 153. Father, settle Sandy! He’s cryin names to me. He’s aye tig, tigging, And winna let me be.

  3.  intr. transf. To run from place to place, as if chased. dial.

1834.  Lover, Leg. & Stor. Irel., Ser. II. 297. He run undher a stool, and kept tiggin’ about from one place to th’ other.

1882.  J. Walker, Jaunt to Auld Reekie, 13. Like cattle tiggin’ frae the clegs and flees Awa they scamper.