# Gig (for musicians): Origin?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gig-for-musicians-origin/409520>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gig-for-musicians-origin/409520 "2007-06-26T20:56:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gig-for-musicians-origin/409520/1 "2007-06-26T20:56:48Z")

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I looked this up online, and only came up with the thought that it was from Jazz musicians in the early 1900s, origin unknown.

This is the Straight Dope, I’m sure we can do better than that. At least a first cite, or something?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gig-for-musicians-origin/409520/2 "2007-06-26T21:00:57Z")

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Here’s what [The Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/back-n.html#gig) says.