fishgig

9.9

A long pole with a hooked point for catching fish by spearing

noun
/ˈfɪʃɡɪɡ/

Archaic

: garfio

Traditional fishermen often prefer using a fishgig over a net in certain waters.

Examples

The old shed still held his grandfather's rusty fishgig.
A fishgig is an effective tool for spearing fish.
He used a fishgig to catch dinner from the shallow stream.
He used a fishgig to catch dinner.
He used a fishgig to catch dinner from the shallow stream.
The old shed still held his grandfather's rusty fishgig.
Traditional fishermen often prefer using a fishgig over a net in certain waters.

Synonyms

spear

vsfishgig

194 1.2

A long pole with a sharp point used for hunting or fishing

is more specific, limited to a pole with a barbed point for fishing

lance

vsfishgig

139 6.7

A long pointed weapon used for fighting or fishing

is focused on a simple fishing pole with a barbed point instead

gig

vsfishgig

Specialized

3 9.9

A long stick with sharp points used to spear fish or frogs

is narrower, referring only to a pole with a single barbed point for fish

fizgig

vsfishgig

Archaic

9.9

A spear with a barbed point on a shaft used to catch fish

is the same tool but named differently

leister

vsfishgig

Archaic

9.9

A spear with three or more points used to catch fish like salmon

uses a single barbed point rather than multiple prongs

Surface Forms

fishgig singular

fishgigs plural

Morphology

fishgig = fish + gig (semi-transparent) = fish + gig

The compound is compositionally clear as 'a gig for fish', but the sense of 'gig' meaning 'spear' is archaic/uncommon and may not be known to typical learners.

Etymology

The word fishgig is simply fish + gig, where gig was an old word for a 'spear' or 'sharp point'. So a fishgig is literally a 'spear for fish', which is why it means a pole with a pointed, barbed end used to catch fish by spearing.