# Piggyback rides? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965 "2003-08-22T17:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chubbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Chubbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chubbs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965/1 "2003-08-22T17:22:44Z")
Why Piggy? Did people ride on the backs of pigs? Or they just say that to me because I’m portly? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965/2 "2003-08-22T21:44:53Z")
From [http://m-w.com](http://m-w.com): Main Entry: 1pig·gy·back Pronunciation: 'pi-gE-"bak Function: adverb Etymology: alteration of earlier a pick pack, of unknown origin Date: 1565 1 : up on the back and shoulders 2 : on or as if on the back of another; especially : on a railroad flatcar ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965/3 "2003-08-22T22:18:04Z")
The [Word Mavins](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960816) address this. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965/4 "2003-08-22T22:37:19Z")
(The Spelling Mavens took the day off.) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggyback-rides/196965/5 "2003-08-22T22:56:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > \*\*(The Spelling Mavens took the day off.) \*\* LOL. I caught it after I hit submit - but have never been one to feel the need to correct small errors…