piggy

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪɡi/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡi
• Hyphenation: pig‧gy

Etymology 1

From pig +‎ -y (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

• piggie

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

• pay piggy
• piggy bank
• piggy flu
• piggy in the middle
• piggy move up
• piggy stick
• piggy-wig
• piggy wiggy

Etymology 2

From pig +‎ -y (adjectival suffix).

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

• piggily
• pigginess