zaghttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zag_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezag, n., adv., & v.
First published 1921; not fully revised

zagnoun, adverb, & verb

  1. 1793–
    Used to express a movement or direction inclined at an angle to that indicated by zig v.
    1. 1793
      I have written many a letter in return for letters I have received; but then—they were original matter—spurt—away! zig, here; zag, there.
      R. Burns, Letter 26 April (2003) vol. II. 212
    2. 1840
      We go down by zig and zag towards the level of the Tiber.
      T. Arnold in A. P. Stanley, Life & Correspondence of Thomas Arnold (1844) vol. II. 403
    3. 1899
      His steel zags down like lightning before a man's eye can teach his hand to parry.
      H. Sutcliffe, Shameless Wayne xii. 158
    4. 1906
      One of the chief difficulties of walking up snipe is that when you shoot zig he goes zag, and when you shoot zag he goes zig.
      Spectator 1 December 879/2

zag, n., adv., & v. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zag, n., adv., & v. was last modified in July 2023.