pɪɡ n. & v. --n. 1 a
any omnivorous hoofed
bristly mammal of
the family Suidae,
esp. a domesticated kind,
Sus scrofa. b US a
young pig; a piglet. c (often in comb.) any
similar animal (guinea-pig). 2 the
flesh of esp. a young or
sucking pig as
food (roast pig). 3 colloq. a a
greedy,
dirty,
obstinate,
sulky, or annoying
person. b an
unpleasant,
awkward, or
difficult thing,
task, etc. 4 an
oblong mass of
metal (esp.
iron or lead)
from a smelting-furnace. 5 sl. derog. a
policeman. --v. (pigged, pigging) 1 tr. (also absol.) (of a sow)
bring forth (piglets). 2 tr. colloq.
eat (food) greedily. 3 intr.
herd together or
behave like pigs. øbleed like a pig (or
stuck pig)
bleed copiously.
buy a pig in a poke buy,
accept, etc.
something without knowing its value or esp.
seeing it. in pig (of a sow)
pregnant. in a pig's
eye colloq.
certainly not.
make a pig of
oneself overeat. make a pig's ear of colloq. make a
mess of;
bungle. pig in the
middle a person
who is placed in an awkward
situation between two others (after a ball game
for three with one in the middle). pig-iron
crude iron from a smelting-furnace. Pig
Island Austral. & NZ sl.
New Zealand. pig it live in a
disorderly,
untidy, or
filthy fashion. pig-jump Austral. sl. n. a
jump made by a
horse from
all four legs. --v.intr. (of a horse) jump in
this manner. pig
Latin a made-up jargon. pig-meat
Brit.
pork,
ham, or
bacon. pig
out (often foll. by on) esp. US sl. eat gluttonously. pigs might fly iron. an
expression of disbelief. pig-sticker a long
sharp knife. pig's
wash =
PIGSWILL. øøpiggish adj. piggishly adv. piggishness n. piglet n. piglike adj. pigling n. [ME pigge f. OE pigga (unrecorded)]
