gigful

gigful

English

Etymology

gig +‎ -ful

Noun

gigful (plural gigfuls)

1. The number or quantity that can be held by a gig (rowboat or two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage).
   • 1856, George Cupples, The Green Hand, London: Sands, 1878, Chapter 16, p. 219,

     Before the two large quarter-boats could be got ready for the ladies and the rest of us, in fact, we heard the gigful of writers and cadets beginning to pop away at everything they saw alive, out of sight of the ship […]

   • 1897, Robert Louis Stevenson, St. Ives, New York: Scribner, Chapter 13, p. 141,

     I am well aware there is a Providence for drunken men, that holds the reins for them and presides over their troubles; doubtless he had his work cut out for him with this particular gigful!

   • 1955, Patrick White, The Tree of Man, New York: Viking, Chapter 8, p. 107,

     Then he ran down the steps, in a splendid pair of pants, towards the gigful of girls, who had been brought from Sydney for him to choose from.

   • 1976, Norah Lofts, To See a Fine Lady, Greenwich, CT: Fawcett, Part 3, p. 264,

     […] an ageing market woman, driving her gigful of yokel produce to back doors and draughty stalls,

2. The number of songs that can be performed during a gig (performing engagement by a musician or musical group).
   • 2007, Roddy Doyle, “The Deportees” in The Deportees and Other Stories, New York: Viking, p. 58,

     They had eight Guthrie songs now, and some more to make up the gigful.