I. ˈ(h)wig noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Scotland : any of various elements or products of milk ; especially : whey
II. ˈhwig also ˈwig noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: short for whiggamore
1. : a Presbyterian or Covenanter in Scotland in the 17th century — compare true blue
2. : one favoring the exclusion in 1679-80 of the Duke of York from the line of succession to the British throne principally because of his Roman Catholicism — usually used disparagingly; opposed to Tory
3. : a member or supporter of the Whig party in British politics
4. : an American favoring colonial interests and especially independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution — opposed to Tory
5. : a member or supporter of the Whig party in American politics
III. adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
1. : of, relating to, or characterized by Whiggery: as
a. : of, relating to, or constituting one of the two major British political groups of the 18th and early 19th centuries arising from the Roundheads and associated chiefly at first with support of the Hanoverians but later with efforts to limit the royal authority and increase parliamentary power and with preference for Dissenters rather than the established Anglican church — compare conservative 2b(1), king's friends , liberal 5d(1), radical 3c(1), tory a
b. : of, relating to, or constituting a major 19th century American political party arising about 1834 from the National Republicans and other groups opposed to the Jacksonian Democrats and associated chiefly with manufacturing, commercial, and financial interests, a protective tariff, a national government public works program, and opposition to a strong presidency until succeeded about 1854 by the Republican party
2. : favoring, belonging to, or composed of members of a Whig party or group
Whig candidates
Whig platform
IV. ˈ(h)wig intransitive verb
( whigged ; whigged ; whigging ; whigs )
Etymology: perhaps from whig (II)
Scotland : to move steadily on : jog along