subs. (colloquial).—1. An epithet of disparagement or abuse. Thus, A DIRTY PIG = a person unclean in word or deed (GROSE); AN OLD PIG = an ill-natured boor; A LEARNED PIG = a bombastic shallow-pate; as verb. (or TO PIG IT, GROSE) = to herd as pigs; TO PIG TOGETHER = to lie (or sleep) two (or more) in a bed (GROSE); PIGGERY = a squalid or untidy room; PIG-EYED = small-eyed; PIG-FACED = heavy jowled; PIGGISH = greedy; PIG-HEADED = obstinate (GROSE); AS HAPPY AS A PIG IN MUCK (or SHIT) = contented but filthy; LIKE A PIG, NO GOOD ALIVE = selfish; TO LONG FOR PIG (or A BARTHOLOMEW PIG) (q.v.) = to show signs of, or presume upon, pregnancy; TO BLEED LIKE A PIG = to bleed copiously, like a pig under the knife; TO STARE LIKE A STUCK PIG = to look fixedly or terrifically.
d. 1529. SKELTON, The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummynge, 233.
| Then swetely together we ly, | |
| As two PYGGES IN A STY. |
1621. JONSON, News from the New World [Century]. You should be some dull tradesman by your PIG-HEADED sconce now.
1607. DEKKER and WEBSTER, Westward Ho! v. 3. He BLEEDS LIKE A PIG, for his crown’s crack’d.
1678. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 185].
| Gan. But when I PIG’D with mine own Dad, | |
| I us’d to make him hopping mad. |
1697. VANBRUGH, The Provoked Wife, iv. 6. Now, you being as dirty and as nasty as myself, we may go PIG TOGETHER.
1698. The Unnatural Mother [NARES]. By the zide of the Wood, there is a curious hansom Gentlewoman lies as dead as a Herring, and BLEEDS LIKE ANY STUCK PIG.
1704. W. DARREL, The Gentlemen Instructed, 537. When reason sleeps extravagance breaks loose; quality and peasantry PIG TOGETHER.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 373. He STARED LIKE A STUCK PIG at my equipment.
d. 1845. HOOD, A Tale of a Trumpet.
| How the Smiths contrived to live? and whether | |
| The fourteen Murphys all PIGG’D TOGETHER? |
1857. WHITTY, Friends of Bohemia, I. 86. What narrow stairs! How dreadful it is, grandfather will stick to this PIGGY street!
d. 1859. MACAULAY, Sir William Temple. But he hardly thinks that the sufferings of a dozen felons PIGGING together on bare bricks … suited to the dignity of history.
18[?]. Westminster Review [Century]. To PIG IT like the prodigal son.
18[?]. The Engineer [Century]. The working man here is content to PIG it, to use an old-country term, in a way that an English workman would not care to do.
1860. G. ELIOT, The Mill on the Floss, i. 3. A thoroughly PIG-HEADED fellow.
1888. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, ii. 4, 1. Brodie (searching). Where’s a hat for the Deacon? where’s a hat for the Deacon’s headache? This place is a PIGGERY.
2. (old).—A policeman, or detective. Also GRUNTER: see BEAK. CHINA STREET PIG = a Bow St. officer.—GROSE (1785); VAUX (1819).
1821. P. EGAN, Life in London, I. i. Do not frown upon me, but stretch out thine hand to my assistance, thou bashaw of the PIGS, and all but beak!
3. (military).—In pl. = The Seventy-Sixth Foot, now the 2nd Batt. West Riding Regiment. [From its badge.] Also THE IMMORTALS (q.v.) and THE OLD SEVEN AND SIXPENNIES (q.v.).
4. (printers’).—A pressman: cf. DONKEY.
1841. SAVAGE, Dictionary, s.v.
6. (Cambridge University).—See HOG, subs., sense 3.
7. (tailors’).—An utterly spoiled garment. Also PORK.
COLLOQUIAL PHRASES are:—A PIG IN A POKE = a blind bargain: Fr. acheter chat en poche (B. E., c. 1696; GROSE, 1785; BEE, 1823); TO STUFF A FAT PIG IN THE TAIL = to give unnecessarily: TO TAKE ONE’S PIGS (or HOGS) TO MARKET = to deal, or do business: generally with PRETTY, FAIR, FINE, or BAD, when = a good or bad bargain, to succeed or fail (B. E., c. 1696; GROSE, 1785); TO DRIVE ONE’S PIGS (or HOGS) TO MARKET = to snore (GROSE, 1785); TO FOLLOW LIKE AN ANTHONY PIG = to beg, to hang on (GROSE, 1785); TO GET THE WRONG SOW BY THE EAR (or, American, THE WRONG PIG BY THE TAIL) = to make a mistake; WHEN PIGS FLY = never: see QUEEN DICK; COLD PIG = (1) see ante and add ‘GROSE, 1785’; (2) goods on sale when returned (BEE, 1823); and (3, medical) = a corpse, DEAD-MEAT (q.v.); TO HAVE BOILED PIG AT HOME = to be master in one’s house (GROSE: an allusion to a well-known poem and story); BRANDY IS LATIN FOR PIG AND GOOSE = an excuse for a dram after either (GROSE); PLEASE THE PIGS = ‘If circumstances permit,’ ‘Deo volente’; LONG (or -MASKED) PIG = human flesh: exposed openly for sale in Hayti under this name; TO TEACH A PIG TO PLAY ON A FLUTE = to attempt the absurd or impossible; ‘WHEN A PIG IS PROFFERED, HOLD UP THE POKE’ = ‘Never refuse a good offer’; ‘YOU CAN’T MAKE HORN OF PIG’S TAIL’ (see SOW’S EAR); TO MISTAKE A PIG FOR A DOG = to act stupidly; CHILD’S PIG BUT FATHER’S BACON = a pretended benefit: as when a pet animal is sold; TO GREASE A FAT PIG (or SOW) ON THE ARSE (RAY) = to be insensible of a kindness.
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, The Reeves Tale, I. 357.
| And in the floor, with nose and mouth to-broke, | |
| They walwe as doon two PIGGES IN A POKE. |
14[?]. Douce MS. 52. When me profereth THE PIGGE, open THE POGHE.
1546. HEYWOOD, Proverbs, s.v. TO PULL THE WRONG PIG BY THE EAR.
1634. WITHALS, Dictionary, 583. Terra volat, PIGS FLIE in the ayre with their tayles forward.
1678. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 257].
| He will not BUY A PIG A POKE IN; | |
| But wisely will bring all things out, | |
| And see within doors and without. | |
| Ibid., Scarronides, or Virgil Travestie [Works (1725), 122]. | |
| Thou hast of Hope not one Spark left, | |
| Th’ hast BROUGHT THY HOGS TO A FAIR MARKET. |
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, ii. 198. I’ll have one of the wigs to carry into the country with me, and PLEASE THE PIGS.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, ii. 455. I’gad he fell asleep, and snored so loud that we thought he was DRIVING HIS HOGS TO MARKET.
1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, xv. Strap with a hideous groan observed that we had BROUGHT OUR PIGS TO A FINE MARKET. Ibid. (1771), The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. Roger may CARRY HIS PIGS TO ANOTHER MARKET.
d. 1819. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’) [BEE].
| ‘And then for why, the folk do rail; | |
| TO STUFF AN OLD FAT PIG I’ TH’ TAIL,— | |
| Old gripus of Long-Leat.’ |
1853. BULWER-LYTTON, My Novel, v. xvii. ‘PLEASE THE PIGS,’ then said Mr. Avenel to himself, ‘I shall pop the question.’
1890. BOLDREWOOD, The Squatter’s Dream, 50. Of course I must see them … I never BUY A PIG IN A POKE.
1896. R. L. STEVENSON, South Seas [Edinburgh, xx. 84]. While the drums were going twenty strong … the priests carried up the blood-stained baskets of LONG PIG.
1900. HUME NISBET, In Sheep’s Clothing, 201. He felt that he had SOLD HIS PIGS IN A BAD MARKET. If he had waited he might have met the right woman with even a larger dower.
