riggish

English

Etymology

From rig (a wanton girl) +‎ -ish.

Adjective

riggish (comparative more riggish, superlative most riggish)

  1. (archaic) Wanton, lewd, or tomboyish
    • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
      Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry
      Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Become themselves in her: that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.
    • 1612–1626, [Joseph Hall], “(please specify the page)”, in [Contemplations vpon the Principall Passages of the Holy Storie], volume (please specify |volume=II, V, or VI), London, →OCLC:
      The wanton gesticulations of a virgin in a wild assembly of gallants warmed with wine, could be no other than riggish, and unmaidenly.
    • 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 180:
      Dr Quintal saw them to the door, giving Rita a shrug and a sardonic grimace as she went, implying that he was not the dupe of her riggish rejection of a casual love affair.
    • 2008, Sandra Gulland, Mistress of the Sun, page 126:
      “The matchmaker agrees that your having a position at Court will improve your chances, but she warned that you must be exceedingly careful of your reputation. Court society is known to be riggish.”

References