pig

pig¹

/pig/, n., v., pigged, pigging.

n.

1. a young swine of either sex, esp. a domestic hog, Sus scrofa, weighing less than 120 lb. (220 kg.)

2. any wild or domestic swine.

3. the flesh of swine; pork.

4. a person of piglike character, behavior, or habits, as one who is gluttonous, very fat, greedy, selfish, or filthy.

5. Slang. a slatternly, sluttish woman.

6. Disparaging. a police officer.

7. Mach. any tool or device, as a long-handled brush or scraper, used to clear the interior of a pipe or duct.

8. Metall.

a. an oblong mass of metal that has been run while still molten into a mold of sand or the like, esp. such a mass of iron from a blast furnace.

b. one of the molds for such masses of metal.

c. metal in the form of such masses.

d. pig iron.

9. on the pig's back, Australian Slang. in a fortunate position.

v.t.

10. to mold (metal) into pigs.

11. Informal. to eat (something) quickly; gulp: He pigged three doughnuts and ran off to school.

v.i.

12. to bring forth pigs; farrow.

13. pig it,

a. to live like a pig, esp. in dirt.

b. to lead a disorganized, makeshift life; live without plan or pattern.

14. pig out, Slang. to overindulge in eating: We pigged out on pizza last night.

[1175-1225; ME pigge young pig, with doubled consonant appropriate to terms for smaller animals (cf. DOG, FROG¹) but with no obvious relations; almost certainly not akin to LG, D big(ge), MD vigghe young pig, which involve further obscurities; if Dan pige, Sw piga maid, young girl are compared, perh. < ON word meaning "young, small," applied in Scand to girls but in OE to swine]

pig²

/pig/, n. Scot. and North Eng.

1. an earthenware crock, pot, pitcher, or jar.

2. potter's clay; earthenware as a material.

[1400-50; late ME pygg < ?]

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I

Any wild or domestic even-toed ungulate (family Suidae) that is a stout-bodied, short-legged omnivore, with thick, sparsely bristled skin, a long mobile snout, small tail, and hooves with two functional and two nonfunctional digits.

Pigs are native to European, Asian, and North African forests. Wild pigs use their tusklike teeth to forage and for defense; the teeth of domestic pigs, which were developed from wild pigs in Europe с 1500 BC, are less developed. Pigs are regarded as highly intelligent. Domestic pigs are classified as lard (thick fat, carcass weighing at least 220 lbs, or 100 kg), bacon (carcass about 150 lbs, or 70 kg), and pork (carcass about 100 lbs, or 45 kg) pigs, depending on the principal product derived from them; they are also a source of leather. Today they are usually bred in almost complete confinement. See also boar, hog.

II

(as used in expressions)

wild pig

guinea pig

pig iron

Bay of Pigs invasion

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▪ mammal group

 wild or domestic swine, a mammal of the Suidae family. In Britain, the term pig refers to all domestic swine; in the United States, to younger swine not yet ready for market and weighing usually less than 82 kg (180 pounds), others being called hogs. Pigs are stout-bodied, short-legged, omnivorous mammals, with thick skins usually sparsely coated with short bristles. Their hooves have two functional and two nonfunctional digits. Domestic North American pigs originated from wild stocks still found in European, Asian, and North African forests. Wild pigs are not truly native to North America but are believed to have been introduced on Christopher Columbus' second voyage in 1493 and brought to the mainland in the early 1500s. There is little difference between wild pigs, or boars (boar), and domestic swine, though the tusklike teeth of domestic pigs are not as developed as the tusks of their wild kin, who use the sharp ends to forage for roots and as a defensive weapon. Wild pigs may live up to 25 years or more.

      Domestic pigs are categorized according to three basic types: large-framed lard types with a comparatively thick layer of fat and carcasses usually weighing at least 100 kg (220 pounds); smaller bacon types, with carcasses of about 70 kg (150 pounds); and pork types with carcasses averaging around 45 kg (100 pounds).

      In the early 21th century, China had the largest hog population of any country in the world, but scientific breeding was concentrated in Europe and the United States. Denmark produced the Landrace breed, raised for its excellent bacon. The Yorkshire (Large White), the world's most popular breed, originated in Britain in the 18th century. In the late 20th century many farmers began raising leaner hogs through the use of both improved feed and selective breeding techniques. See also livestock.

       Selected breeds of pigs Selected breeds of pigsA comparison of selected breeds of pigs is provided in the table.

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