Dig | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Dig, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DUG OR DIGGED; p. pr. & vb. n. DIGGING.—Digged is obsolete or obsolescent.] [Dan. dige, O. Fries. & Sw. dika, A-S. dician, O. D. diken, to dike, ditch, trench, Goth. digan, deigan, to form; A-S. dic, L. Ger. dik, D. dijk, Sw. dike, Dan. dige, Ger. deich, dike, ditch.] 1. To turn and throw up, as the earth; to loosen or remove with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce or open with a snout, or by other means, as swine and moles do. Be first to dig the ground. Dryden. Still for the growing liver digged his breast. Dryden. 2. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch, a well, a mine, &c. To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig down a wall.—To dig in, to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.—To dig from, out, or up, to get out by digging; as, to dig coals from a mine; to dig out fossils. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging coals, or digging iron ore.

Dig, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To work with a spade or other like instrument; to do servile work; to delve.

Dig for it more than for hid treasures. Job iii. 21. I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.

Sense 2. (Mining.) To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.

To dig in, to pierce with a spade or other pointed instrument; to make excavation in. — To dig through, to open a passage through by digging.

Dig, n.

noun

n. 1. A thrust; a punch; a poke; as, a dig in the side. [Vulgar.] 2. A diligent or plodding student. [U. S.]