Comments on: Piggyback

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:01:31 +0000

From all my reading pickaback sounds the best, I’ll stick with that one.

By: Edd

Edd — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:18:53 +0000

I would go with the original reason set down by the author of this definition. I am reading J. Meade Falkner’s ‘Moonfleet’ Written in 1898. In chapter 10 the main character is trying to escape with a broken foot; “. . . and then, while he knelt down upon the path, I climbed up from behind upon him, putting my arms round his neck; so he bore me “pickaback.” I shut my eyes firm again, and thus we moved along another spell . . .” I’m guessing piggy back simply evolved from ‘pickaback’ as you can imagine saying the word quickly and a three year old will think you said piggyback.

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:19:59 +0000

Actually, as I understand it, it originates from hog hunting. The hunter ties the dead hogs legs together around his waist and holding the pigs front hooves, Piggy Backs the hog to his vehicle which may be several kilometers away.

By: Lukewarm

Lukewarm — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:00:22 +0000

Luke,

You might have as well asked “why not call it human being backing as human beings do the same thing while carrying something on their backs?”

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:03:36 +0000

Interesting point Jerry, but then why not call it bunnybacking as rabbits do the same thing?

Instead, rabbits got the reputation of constantly mating when in actual fact they were merely playing a classic old childrens game.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:31:04 +0000

Politely disagree… anyone who has grown up around young pigs should know where the term “piggyback” comes from. Young pigs will play this game for hours… jumping on the back of littermate with the fore feet and holding on as long as they can or until the “ridee” gets tired of the game and either sits down or rolls over.

Pigs have been doing it for centuries.

Jerry