ligger

English

Alternative forms

• liggar (Scotland)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English liggere; equivalent to lig +‎ -er. Doublet of ledger.

Many senses (especially sense 5) are likely formed anew from lig rather than continuations of the preceding senses.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪɡɚ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪɡə/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡə(ɹ)

Noun

ligger (plural liggers)

1. The horizontal timber of a scaffolding; a ledger.
2. A simply supported plank over a stream used as a footbridge.
3. A nether millstone.
4. A coverlet for a bed.
5. (slang) A freeloader or hanger-on, especially in the music or entertainment industry.
   • 2006 August 29, “Peaches gets own band”, in The Sun‎^[1]:

     Peaches Geldof may be a top showbiz ligger – but now she’s got a group of her own.

   • 2005 January 29, “Wicked Whispers”, in The Mirror‎^[2]:

     The ligger caused a scene when he begged one reveller to find him some gear – and offered sexual favours in return.

   • 1984 September 1, “Killed by Death”, in BBC‎^[3]:

     I'm a lone wolf ligger, but I ain't no pretty boy. I'm a backbone shiver and I'm a bundle of joy

6. A kelt (“thin, recently spawned salmon”).
7. (fishing) A baited fishing line attached to a float, for night fishing, etc.

   Synonyms: ledger, ledger line

8. (dialectal) One who lies in bed.
9. (dialectal) A layer.

Anagrams

• Riggle, riggle

Danish

Verb

ligger

1. present of ligge

Middle English

Noun

ligger

1. Alternative form of liggere

Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

ligger

1. present tense of ligge

Norwegian Nynorsk

Verb

ligger

1. (non-standard since 2012) present tense of ligge
2. (non-standard since 2012) present tense of liggje

Swedish

Verb

ligger

1. present indicative of ligga