A new-born or very young pig; a young milk-led pig suitable for roasting whole. (Formerly often called roasting pig.)
1566. Withals, Dict., 17. Yonge suckyng pigges, porci delici.
1606. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 166. For one souckinge pigge, ijs viijd.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, II. i. There were three sucking pigs served up in a dish.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Wks. (1862), p. xxxvii. I know no moor on um neaw, than a seawking-pig.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 198. A roast sucking pig came on as a second course.
1846. Youatt, Pig (1847), 130. Those intended to be killed for ‘sucking-pigs’ should not be above four weeks old.
1886. W. J. Tucker, E. Europe, 73. ‘You like sucking-pig?’ he asked. ‘Not particularly.’ ‘Ah! you never ate them as they ought to be eaten!’
