What is the meaning of "jury-rigging" here?

[englishstudent]

Hi,

This sentence is from an article called 'Wal-Mart goes green' in LA Times.

"And just like at your house, all new Wal-Mart stores will have freezer lights that shut off. That test came from engineers taking a large white motion detector intended for security lights and jury-rigging it onto a freezer unit in Aurora."

Does it mean 'adapting" it to fit into a freezer? I know "rigged jury" but
this is the first time I am seeing this term in this context. :)

Thanks

[Anglika]

In sailing it means a temporary rig to replace a permanent rig that has been disabled, lost overboard, etc.; it has extended its meaning to cover any makeshift arrangement of machinery or the like.

[Maralai]

This comes from a noun ("jury rig" and later "jury-rig") which was originally a nautical term in the 1600's. It can be used as a noun (see above), but now most often appears as a verb ("Matthew jury-rigged the faulty headlight so that he could reach the auto shop.") or adjective ("The jury-rigged generator has already failed.") This usage typically describes something which was put together quickly, out of necessity, in a makeshift manner, and intended only as a temporary solution.

This expression has nothing to do with *jury-rigging (noun or adjective; see "rigged jury" and "the lottery was rigged" - this usage refer to unethical (and often illegal) tampering with a process, game, election, competition, etc. in order to make a profit that would not otherwise be possible.

M.

[englishstudent]

Thank you Anglika and Maralai.

[Anglika]

You're welcome