piggy

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɪɡi/
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪɡi
  • Hyphenation: pig‧gy

Etymology 1

From pig +‎ -y (diminutive suffix).[1]

Alternative forms

Noun

piggy (plural piggies)

  1. (childish) A pig (the animal).
    This little piggy went to market.
    • 1886, Peter Christen Asbj&oslash￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 278:
      "Where might you come from?" When she had got a satisfactory answer to this, she continued, while she repeatedly addressed herself to the young pigs: "Ah, so! you are at school at the parson's, eh! - hush, hush! little piggies then!"
  2. (childish) A guinea pig.
    • 2009, Elvio Romeo, The Ultimate Guinea Pig Handbook, page 56:
      If you're dead-set on breeding your piggies, here are some things to remember and purchase […]
  3. (childish, slang) A toe.
    He has such cute piggies!
  4. (derogatory, endearing) A pig (greedy person).
    Can't you finish your dinner? You've been a piggy, haven't you?
  5. (UK and Ireland slang, derogatory) A member of the police.
  6. (BDSM, endearing) Paypig.
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From pig +‎ -y (adjectival suffix).[2]

Adjective

piggy (comparative piggier, superlative piggiest)

  1. Resembling a pig.
    1. Greedy.
    2. Slovenly, dirty.
      • 1983, Stephen King, Word Processor of the Gods:
        He himself, who had always tried to be gentle and good (whatever “good” meant in this crazy world), had married Lina, who had developed into a silent, piggy woman, and had gotten Seth by her.
    3. Lecherous, often in a sexist way.
      • 1977 April 16, Charles Bedard, “Thumpata-Thump Thumpata-Thump”, in Gay Community News, page 9, quoting Larry Silverman:
        Finding quality flms [sic] of a sexual nature is difficult. Many of the films we have investigated for this program are down-right piggy. I wanted films of a sensual interest that also had some political sensibilities, especially in regards to women.
Derived terms

References

  1. ^ “piggy, n.1”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  2. ^ “piggy, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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