Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHIG, n.² [Ash, in his dictionary, informs us that this word is from whiggam, a term used in Scotland in driving horses; whiggamor, one who drives horses. In 1648, a party of these people marched to Edinburgh to oppose the king and the duke of Hamilton; and hence the name of whig was given to the party opposed to the court.]

One of a political party which had its origin in England in the seventeenth century, in the reign of Charles I. or II., when great contests existed respecting the royal prerogatives and the rights of the people. Those who supported the king in his high claims, were called tories, and the advocates of popular rights were called whigs. During the revolution in the United States, the friends and supporters of the war and the principles of the revolution, were called whigs, and those who opposed them, were called tories and royalists. Where then, when tories scarce get clear, / Shall whigs and congresses appear? – M'Fingal.