piggy

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English

Alternative forms

piggie (noun only)

Etymology

From pig ‎ -y.

Pronunciation

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

Noun

piggy (plural piggies)

(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!"
(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 […]
(childish, slang) A toe.
He has such cute piggies!
(mildly derogatory) A pig, a greedy person.
Can't you finish your dinner? You've been a piggy, haven't you?
(derogatory, slang, UK, Ireland) A member of the police.

Derived terms

Adjective

piggy (comparative piggier, superlative piggiest)

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

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