piggy

English

Alternative forms

• piggie (noun only)

Etymology

pig +‎ -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪɡi/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡi
• Hyphenation: pig‧gy

Noun

piggy (plural piggies)

1. (childish) A pig (the animal).

   This little piggy went to market.

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, 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. (mildly derogatory) A pig, a greedy person.

   Can't you finish your dinner? You've been a piggy, haven't you?

5. (derogatory, slang, UK, Ireland) A member of the police.

Derived terms

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

 

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