Bigg

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An uncommon or dialectal term possibly referring to something large or significant in size or importance; alternatively, a reference to a proper noun such as a surname or place name; or a coined or playful word with no widely recognized meaning
2. A rare or nonstandard expression indicating notable size or stature; a family name borne by individuals or locations; or an invented label lacking formal definition or usage
3. A seldom-seen word that might describe something sizable or prominent; used as a last name or geographical identifier; or simply a whimsical term with no established lexical presence

Etymology: "Bigg" is an old Scottish and northern English word for barley, a grain that was once a staple crop in those regions. Its main story, though, is a verb: Middle English "biggen" meant to build or to dwell, and it came from Old Norse "byggja," meaning to inhabit, settle or build. The Scandinavian settlers who reached northern Britain brought this word with them, which is why it appears so strongly in the north rather than in the south of England. The grain sense and the building sense are not obviously related, but the verb has a noticeable offspring: "bigging," still used in Scots for a building or structure, and the familiar English words "build" and "bield" are close relatives of the same stock. The connection shows how a single Old Norse verb about settling down spread into several corners of the language.