One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
verb
1‘these vessels were rigged with a single square sail’
equip, kit out, fit out, fit up, supply, outfit, furnish, accoutre, array, provide, provision, stock, arm
2‘I rigged myself out in all-American gear’
dress, attire, clothe, robe, garb, array, deck out, drape, accoutre, outfit, costume, get up, turn out, trick out, trick up
informal doll up
literary bedizen, caparison
archaic apparel, invest, habit, trap out
3‘Alfred will rig up a bit of shelter’
set up hastily, erect hastily, assemble hastily, throw together, cobble together, put together, whip up, improvise, devise, contrive, jury-rig
British informal knock up
noun
1‘he had left his CB radio rig switched on’
apparatus, appliance, piece of equipment, tool, machine, device, tackle, gear, mechanism, outfit, plant, kit, implement, utensil, instrument, contraption, contrivance, gadget, structure, system
informal gizmo
2‘an officer in the rig of the American Army Air Corps’
uniform, costume, ensemble, outfit, suit, livery, attire, clothes, clothing, garments, dress, garb, regimentals, accoutrements, regalia, finery, trappings, disguise
British kit, strip
informal get-up, gear, togs
British informal rig-out
formal apparel
archaic array, raiment, habit, habiliments, vestments
verb
1‘he will not need to rig the election or buy voters’
manipulate, arrange fraudulently, interfere with, influence, gerrymander, juggle, massage, distort, misrepresent, pervert, manoeuvre, tamper with, tinker with, doctor
falsify, forge, fake, engineer, trump up
informal fix, cook
British informal fiddle