wigwag


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wig·wag

 (wĭg′wăg′)
v. wig·wagged, wig·wag·ging, wig·wags
v.intr.
1. To move back and forth; wag steadily or rhythmically: watched the pendulum wigwag.
2. To signal by waving a flag, light, or an upraised arm, especially in accordance with a code.
v.tr.
1. To move (something) back and forth steadily or rhythmically.
2. To convey (a message or signal) by waving a flag, light, or an upraised arm.
n.
1. The act or practice of wigwagging.
2. A message sent by this method.

[Dialectal wig, to move + wag.]

wig′wag′ger n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wigwag

(ˈwɪɡˌwæɡ)
vb, -wags, -wagging or -wagged
1. to move (something) back and forth
2. (Military) to communicate with (someone) by means of a flag semaphore
n
(Military)
a. a system of communication by flag semaphore
b. the message signalled
[C16: from obsolete wig, probably short for wiggle + wag1]
ˈwigˌwagger n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wig•wag

(ˈwɪgˌwæg)

v. -wagged, -wag•ging,
n. v.t., v.i.
1. to move to and fro.
2. Naut. to signal by waving a flag or lantern according to a code.
n.
3. Naut. the act or process of sending messages by the movements of a flag or lantern waved according to a code.
4. a message so signaled.
[1575–85; wig to wag (now dial.) + wag; gradational compound, parallel to zigzag]
wig′wag`ger, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

wigwag


Past participle: wigwagged
Gerund: wigwagging

Imperative
wigwag
wigwag
Present
I wigwag
you wigwag
he/she/it wigwags
we wigwag
you wigwag
they wigwag
Preterite
I wigwagged
you wigwagged
he/she/it wigwagged
we wigwagged
you wigwagged
they wigwagged
Present Continuous
I am wigwagging
you are wigwagging
he/she/it is wigwagging
we are wigwagging
you are wigwagging
they are wigwagging
Present Perfect
I have wigwagged
you have wigwagged
he/she/it has wigwagged
we have wigwagged
you have wigwagged
they have wigwagged
Past Continuous
I was wigwagging
you were wigwagging
he/she/it was wigwagging
we were wigwagging
you were wigwagging
they were wigwagging
Past Perfect
I had wigwagged
you had wigwagged
he/she/it had wigwagged
we had wigwagged
you had wigwagged
they had wigwagged
Future
I will wigwag
you will wigwag
he/she/it will wigwag
we will wigwag
you will wigwag
they will wigwag
Future Perfect
I will have wigwagged
you will have wigwagged
he/she/it will have wigwagged
we will have wigwagged
you will have wigwagged
they will have wigwagged
Future Continuous
I will be wigwagging
you will be wigwagging
he/she/it will be wigwagging
we will be wigwagging
you will be wigwagging
they will be wigwagging
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been wigwagging
you have been wigwagging
he/she/it has been wigwagging
we have been wigwagging
you have been wigwagging
they have been wigwagging
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been wigwagging
you will have been wigwagging
he/she/it will have been wigwagging
we will have been wigwagging
you will have been wigwagging
they will have been wigwagging
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been wigwagging
you had been wigwagging
he/she/it had been wigwagging
we had been wigwagging
you had been wigwagging
they had been wigwagging
Conditional
I would wigwag
you would wigwag
he/she/it would wigwag
we would wigwag
you would wigwag
they would wigwag
Past Conditional
I would have wigwagged
you would have wigwagged
he/she/it would have wigwagged
we would have wigwagged
you would have wigwagged
they would have wigwagged
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.wigwag - send a signal by waving a flag or a light according to a certain code
brandish, wave, flourish - move or swing back and forth; "She waved her gun"
2.wigwag - signal by or as if by a flag or light waved according to a code
signal, signalise, signalize, sign - communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs; "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture"; "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
The branch is unique because it began as the vision of an individual, Albert James Myer, a former Army surgeon, who developed a unique and practical tactical visual communications system for the Army called "wigwag." Simple, mobile, and lightweight, the wigwag system used flags during the day and torches at night to communicate at distances beyond sound, but within line of sight depending upon terrain and weather conditions.
Once in place, you use the flag to begin spelling out the message, using the wigwag alphabet, numbers, and code signals.
Southern Pacific Railway, a personal injury suit against city officials based upon an automobile collision with a wigwag signal standard at the Embarcadero [Road] crossing.
Arrows wigwag like stray shuttlecocks through the air.
The Tip of the Camel's Hump, however, is distinctive--like Wigwag! Nobody's going to Google it and get a dry cleaner.
Operators can select the wigwag pattern and flashing speed for the lights.
Making butternut dye for Rebel uniforms, leading drills and signals with flags, decoding wigwag, baking hardtack, reenacting battles, and making medicine kits are just a few of the activities in which youngsters may engage to bring this pivotal period in our nation's history to life.
We don't seek advice on government from deposed dictators, we don't seek advice on start-up magazines from the folks who brought you Wigwag or Seven Days, and we certainly don't seek advice on flying an airplane from a pilot who totaled the 747.
Scooter throttle-controls usually are "wigwag" levers positioned at the top of the tiller and designed for finger or thumb operation.