Wiktionary
n. (context genetics English) A set of overlapping DNA segments, derived from a single source of genetic material, from which the complete sequence may be deduced.
Wikipedia
A contig (from contiguous) is a set of overlapping DNA segments that together represent a consensus region of DNA. In bottom-up sequencing projects, a contig refers to overlapping sequence data (reads); in top-down sequencing projects, contig refers to the overlapping clones that form a physical map of the genome that is used to guide sequencing and assembly. Contigs can thus refer both to overlapping DNA sequence and to overlapping physical segments (fragments) contained in clones depending on the context.
Contig is a command line defragmentation utility for Windows currently owned by Microsoft subsidiary SysInternals.
Usage examples of "contig".
Contigs correspond, then, to incomplete sequences we infer to be present somewhere in a parent gene.