sb. Also 7 -any, 8 -iny. [f. T 7 + ANTHONY.] A shortened form of St. Anthony, chiefly used attrib. in reference to the attributes with which the saint was represented (cf. Mrs. Jamieson, Sacred & Legendary Art (1848), II. 367–79), as tantony crutch, tantony pouch. spec. b. (more fully tantony bell) a hand-bell; a small church bell: see quots. c. (more fully tantony pig) [St. Anthony being the patron of swine-herds, and represented as accompanied by a pig], the smallest pig of a litter; also fig. said of one who very closely or obsequiously follows another: cf. context of quot. 1598, and quot. 1662 s.v. ANTHONY.
a. 1594. Lyly, Moth. Bomb., II. i. The dudgen dagger, by which hanges his tantonie pouch.
b. 1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 175. The Paip He had to sell the Tantonie bell And Pardonis thairin was.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Tantony, the small bell over the church-porch, or between the chancel and the nave: the term is also applied to any small hand-bell. ‘Ring the tantony’ is evidently a corruption of St. Anthony, the emblem of that saint being a bell at his tau-staff, or round the neck of his accompanying pig.
1872. Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon, etc., ix. 497.
1904. in Eng. Dial. Dict. (Hunts.), Tantony, the name given to a bell which is rung at the entrance gate of the grounds at Kimbolton Castle to give notice of the arrival of visitors. [See N. & Q., 8 Feb., 1851, 105/1; 14 June, 484/1.]
c. [1598. Stow, Surv. Lond. (1603), 185. Whereupon was raysed a prouerbe, such a one will follow such a one, and whine as it were an Anthonie pig.]
1659. Gauden, Tears of Ch., 595. Some are such Cossets and Tantanies that they congratulate their Oppressors and flatter their Destroyers.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 76. She made me follow her last Week through all the Shops like a Tantiny Pig.
1765. Bickerstaffe, Love in Village, I. ix. To see you dangling after me every where, like a tantony pig.
1891. Besant, St. Katherine’s by the Tower, I. 148. They run the same way—like Tantony pigs.
Hence † Tantony, tantany v., to follow constantly or closely like a tantony pig.
1675. Crowne, Country Wit, V. Do not follow and tantany us, Mr. Ramble, for, I declare positively, thou shalt never have my daughter.
