Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RIG, v.t. [Sax. wrigan, to put on, to cover, whence Sax. hrægle, a garment, contracted into rail, in night-rail.]

1. To dress; to put on; when applied to persons, not elegant, but rather a ludicrous word, to express the putting on of a gay, flaunting or unusual dress. Jack was rigged out in his gold and silver lace, with a feather in his cap. – L'Estrange.
2. To furnish with apparatus or gear; to fit with tackling.
3. To rig a ship, in seamen's language, is to fit the shrouds, stays, braces, &c. to their respective masts and yards. – Mar. Dict.