wigwag
Part of speech: noun
verb
adv
Morphological type: compound
Topics: broadcasting
film
government
media
military
politics
rail-transport
railways
road
television
transport
war
Etymology: From wig (“to wag, waggle”) + wag (“to swing”). The noun is derived from the verb.
Compound parts: wig
wag
Inflected forms:
form: wigwags
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: wig-wag
pos: noun
tags: alternative
form: wigwags
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: wigwagging
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: wigwagged
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: wigwagged
pos: verb
tags: past
form: wig-wag
pos: verb
tags: alternative
form: wig-wag
pos: adv
tags: alternative
Senses:
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: The wig-wag [an instrument measuring solar radiation] utilizes the principle that the gaseous phase of a volatile liquid expands as a result of the conversion of radiant energy to sensible heat. It requires only a reading of the count at whatever interval the observer chooses.
The most common failure on the older models [of washing machines] was a $12 part called a "wig-wag" – that's right, a "wig-wag" – it was a simple part that kept the washer washing and could be replaced in five minutes or less.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: Framed by the pulsing wig-wag lights the painted the stone walls and arched windows of the front of the Gallatin Gateway Inn in vivid reds and blues, Cody Hoyt tossed the duffel he'd saved into the back of his Ford.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: I parked near a big sound stage building; lamped a red wig-wag signal rocking back and forth to indicate a scene being shot inside. This meant no admittance until the cameras had stopped grinding. Presently a bell jingled and the wig-wag died.
WIG-WAG The red flashing light outside of a stage indicating that filming is going on.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: Rogan hit the wigwag flashers on the headlights of the Crown Vic and made it to the circular driveway at the Sixth Avenue entrance of the Hilton in four minutes flat.
But it was equipped with a siren; blue lights concealed in the front grille; wig-wag, or blinking lights, in the rear; and a blue light on the front dashboard.
[…] Claxton flipped on the flashing red and blue wigwag lights on his patrol car's front bumper. […] And the truck, apparently responding to the flashing wigwag lights, edged farther off the pavement onto the shoulder and stopped; properly, cooperatively, deceptively.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: Travelling home about half past ten o'clock on a recent night he had seen a motor-car which had been driven into the cattle-stop on the railway-line. It was a bad night from a visibility point of view, and the wig-wag was not operating, as no train was in sight. However, before the motor-car was extricated a train passed within three inches of it.
The Seacliff train pulled out of Brighton station and gathered speed as it approached the level crossing with its wig-wag signal warning signal ringing out. Then the train's whistle blew deperately because, standing alone at the crossing, was a boy aged about three and a half. The little boy was I, was me, and I was engulfed by the noise and enthralled by the train's power.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: The wigwag is used for polishing the shoulders of pinions, pinion leaves, staffs and pivots, and for numerous other operations. […] These tools are used extensively in all the American watch factories.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
examples: Some vehicles with air brakes also use a wigwag low pressure indicator. This is mounted above the windshield. If the air pressure drops below 60 psi, the signal arm will drop down across the windshield. You can't reset it (push it back out of view) until air pressure is brought above 60 psi. Don't operate the vehicle with the signal arm lever down.
gloss: Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
pos: noun
tags: US
examples: One of the first standard types of automated visual grade-crossing warning was the automated flagman, a signal commonly known as a "wigwag." According to Santa Fe documents, the wigwag was adopted as a standard crossing device by the American Railway Association in 1923. A standard wigwag is actuated by a track circuit and consists of a paddle with a red lamp that gracefully swings back and forth in a horizontal pattern when a train approaches. A wigwag is usually accompanied by a bell.
gloss: A signal sent by waving a flag to and fro.
pos: noun
tags: US
historical
examples: Boy Scouts and others interested in visual signaling can practice indoors with this miniature wigwag sender.
gloss: To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle.
pos: verb
gloss: An act of wigwagging.
pos: verb
examples: Beautiful tails, O, beautiful tails, / Thy gentle wigwag is joyous and queer; / How to our hearts thy switchery tells / Tails of the past ever dear.
We saw the daw get on the back of the sow. The tail of the sow went wig, wag, wig, wag, and all the daw did was Caw, caw, caw, caw.
I wish people were less bound by custom in small matters,—like taking off hats, observing certain forms, and following certain fashions. It is ridiculous that the whole tribe must all do alike, or perish! Simon says up; Simon says down; Simon says wigwag; all wigwag! But not without Simon says so, or there'll be a forfeit. It is very well to play a play once in a while; but as for making life one everlasting game of wigwag, I don't believe in it.
"It is the Festa della Madonna dei Capri—the Feast of Our Lady of the Goats. We have it every single year. Everybody is out!" […] The goats, fairly strutting with pride, however, are the most ludicrous members of these amazing cavalcades, for they have bouquets attached with wire and toothpicks to twisted horns and even to their sub-tails, which wigwag signals as they bob along with arched necks.
Environmental and health risks wigwagged by Rachel Carson and Jacques-Yves Cousteau led to the National Environmental Policy Act.
On the podium a goalkeeper was moving back and forth, sideways, in front of the full-scribbled goal behind him, uneasily wagging his hands to and fro, wigwagging.
gloss: To oscillate between two states.
pos: verb
examples: Then the headlights swept around the last bend in the track and the train was bearing down on us from less than a block away. The engineer saw us and started leaning on the horn. He was going way too fast. The train whistle kept blaring as the white headlamp on the lead car wigwagged back and forth, strobing the car as the train thundered toward us.
gloss: To send a signal by waving a flag to and fro.
pos: verb
tags: US
historical
examples: He had no prearranged signals for explaining the presence of the two Americans, but when the planes returned to check his messages, he wigwagged: "No Japanese. No signs," and then led Krickel and his daughter to where they could be clearly seen. The lead plane dipped its wings alterately and flew back toward Dutch Harbor.
The steam whistle emitted three long blasts as the Carondelet headed into the stream, along with the echoing of sound from the signal cannon. As they passed each of the troop ships, a mighty cheer rose from the men. [General William Tecumseh] Sherman had a signalman wigwag a message of good luck and Godspeed to each.
gloss: With a wigwagging or to-and-fro motion.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
Synonyms: wag
waggle
wig
wiggle
Related words: zigzag
Derived words: wigwagger
wigwaggy
Translations: