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Glite Dictionary
to wigwag

to wigwag

9.9
To wave a flag or light to send a message
  • verb
  • /ˈwɪɡˌwæɡ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : señalizar
  • To alert the rescue team, he wigwagged a flashlight from the hillside.

Examples

  • During the blackout, the guard wigwagged a lantern to send a message across the river.

  • Engineers wigwagged flags to direct the troop movements.

  • Look at how she wigwags that light!

  • The conductor wigwags the flag to signal the train.

  • To alert the rescue team, he wigwagged a flashlight from the hillside.

  • During the blackout, the guard wigwagged a lantern to send a message across the river.

  • Engineers wigwagged flags to direct the troop movements.

Synonyms

to signal
vsto wigwag
141 3.0

To give information to someone using a gesture or sign

focuses on coded waving of objects rather than general gestures
to flag
vsto wigwag
14 5.5

To signal someone by waving a piece of cloth

includes coded waving of lights or other objects beyond simple displays
to signalize
vsto wigwag
  • US
8.6

Send information using signals or movements like nods and waves

limits meaning to purposely coded waving instead of any signaling method

Surface Forms

wigwag infinitive
wigwagged past
wigwagged past participle
wigwagging present participle
wigwags third person singular

Etymology

Wigwag comes from a repeated, playful sound that copies a back-and-forth motion and is like the simple verb wag, which means 'to move'. It was used for flag and light signals that swing side to side, so to wigwag means to send a message by waving a flag or light.