gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise
"The oil company spent millions installing new rigs in the North Sea to extract shale gas."
a truck consisting of a tractor and trailer together
"The heavy rig struggled to climb the steep mountain pass while hauling construction materials."
gear used in fishing
"The old boat was equipped with heavy-duty rig designed to withstand large catches off the coast."
The rigging of a sailing ship or other such craft.
"In abstract algebra, a rig is a structure like a ring where subtraction is not required because elements lack additive inverses."
A ridge.
A wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct.
An algebraic structure similar to a ring, but without the requirement that every element have an additive inverse.
In plain English: A rig is a piece of equipment set up to do specific work, often used for drilling oil wells or supporting heavy machinery on construction sites.
"The fishing boat was loaded with nets, crates, and other equipment on its deck rig."
Usage: In everyday usage, "rig" refers specifically to a boat's system of masts, sails, ropes, and other equipment used for propulsion or steering. This common meaning is distinct from the technical mathematical definition involving algebraic structures without additive inverses.
To fit out with a harness or other equipment.
"The children decided to rig a prank on their teacher by hiding her glasses during morning assembly."
To equip and fit (a ship) with sails, shrouds, and yards.
To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks.
In plain English: To rig something is to set it up quickly and often by cutting corners so that it works just enough for now.
"The mechanic had to rig up some temporary lights for the outdoor concert."
The word rig likely comes from North Germanic languages such as Norwegian and Swedish, where it originally meant to bind or equip something. It traveled into English with this sense of preparing or outfitting a vessel for use.