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piggy-wig

A sweet, infantile term for a pig — the kind used by parents, grandparents, and anyone trying to make a toddler giggle.

ˈpɪɡjˌwaɪzDocumented since 1850sSilenthistorical56 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
2 definitions
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1850 · no dated citations yet
1850BornToday, 2026

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 28, 2026UK

A sweet, infantile term for a pig — the kind used by parents, grandparents, and anyone trying to make a toddler giggle. 'Piggy-wig' has the round, warm sound of nursery English, making a barnyard animal sound cuddly and lovable. It got a notable boost from Edward Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussycat,' where the piggy-wig lends the lovers his ring. Today it survives mainly in baby talk and fond, affectionate contexts.

She squealed when she saw the piggy-wig at the petting farm and refused to leave without feeding it.
Origin: Popularized by Edward Lear's 1871 poem 'The Owl and the Pussycat' — the -wig suffix is a common English diminutive pattern found in words like 'earwig.' Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents

Piggy-wig means: A sweet, infantile term for a pig - the kind used by parents, grandparents, and anyone trying to make a toddler giggle. 'Piggy-wig' has the round, warm sound of nursery English, making a barnyard. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

piggy-wig means: A sweet, infantile term for a pig - the kind used by parents, grandparents, and anyone trying to make a toddler giggle. 'Piggy-wig' has the round, warm sound of nursery English,. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself.

Cluster: child
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, childish, or, endearing) A pig.

For parents

Piggy-wig means: A pig.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

piggy-wig means: A pig.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

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For specific readers

Piggy-wig means: A sweet, infantile term for a pig - the kind used by parents, grandparents, and anyone trying to make a toddler giggle. 'Piggy-wig' has the round, warm sound of nursery English, making a barnyard. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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