English word origin

Etymology of piggy

From pig + -y (diminutive suffix).

2 source sectionsBrief source recordWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A pig (the animal). · A guinea pig. · A toe. · A pig (greedy person).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From pig + -y (diminutive suffix).

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "suf",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pig",
        "3": "y<id:diminutive><pos:diminutive suffix>"
      },
      "expansion": "pig + -y (diminutive suffix)"
    },
    {
      "name": "sup",
      "args": {
        "1": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "¹"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "pig",
      "pig#English"
    ],
    [
      "-y",
      "-y#English:_diminutive"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A pig (the animal).",
        "A guinea pig.",
        "A toe.",
        "A pig (greedy person)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "childish",
        "slang",
        "derogatory",
        "endearing"
      ],
      "recordId": "0661ac5fdea79240205d2e4fa657626fbe402ee52d8abfdf735d549ffe55ad76",
      "rawRecordSha256": "65b7d05beccbb87a841777f4fa87394e8ca96da763cb46539e8644d4fd98f6cc",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 224722
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 2,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

adj

Greedy. · Slovenly, dirty. · Lecherous, often in a sexist way.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From pig + -y (adjectival suffix).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "suf",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pig",
        "3": "y<id:adjectival><pos:adjectival suffix>"
      },
      "expansion": "pig + -y (adjectival suffix)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "pig",
      "pig#English"
    ],
    [
      "-y",
      "-y#English:_adjectival"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "adj",
      "glosses": [
        "Greedy.",
        "Slovenly, dirty.",
        "Lecherous, often in a sexist way."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "7c1af230a570a0ca89b5edf1ef9106f6c4e11d737eef66c86b2cc0815b342f52",
      "rawRecordSha256": "f11d1f66a273afc046000a2983a542c3ebffcf10335f99f857e301224e14e55a",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 224723
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
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    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for piggy →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-cGlnZ3k