wigwag

UK /ˈwɪɡwaɡ/ · US /ˈwɪɡˌwæɡ/ noun, verb, adverb

Forms wigwags wigwagging wigwagged wig-wag

1. noun Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.
2. noun A device that causes one or more lights to flash in a preset pattern.
3. noun (film, television) A red light near the door of a sound stage that flashes to indicate that cameras are rolling inside the stage and that all people and vehicles outside should remain quiet; a red-eye.
4. noun (road transport) A device used to cause lamps installed on a motor vehicle, especially an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or police car, to flash as a warning.
5. noun (road transport) A device with multiple (often two), alternately flashing lights which is installed at a railway level crossing (or grade crossing), a movable bridge, etc., to warn vehicular traffic to stop.
6. noun (watchmaking) An instrument that creates a wigwagging motion for polishing.
7. noun (road transport) A warning device inside the cabin of a truck that causes a mechanical arm to drop into view when the pressure in the airbrake system of the truck becomes too low for the brakes to be reliably deployed.
8. noun (US, rail transport) A grade crossing signal with a swinging motion used to indicate an approaching train.
9. verb To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle.
10. verb An act of wigwagging.
11. verb To oscillate between two states.
12. verb (US, military, historical) To send a signal by waving a flag to and fro.
13. adverb With a wigwagging or to-and-fro motion.

Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “wigwag”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details