Gig (carriage)

A gig is a light, two-wheeled open carriage with large wheels, a forward facing seat, and shafts for a single horse.

Gigs are enclosed at the back, and have luggage space under the cross-seat.

[1]: 85–6 [2]: 132–3 [3]: 107 The Oxford English Dictionary gives the date of first known reference to a horse-drawn gig as 1791, and they were ubiquitous by the early 1800s.

[4] Gigs were typically named after their designers, builders, or their shape.

[9] Nineteenth century literature frequently recounted "romantic tales of spills and hairbreadth [e]scapes" from these vehicles, but is equally fulsome on the fearful thrill experienced in driving them.