Piggy Back

[Steffiy]

Why is a piggy back called a piggy back?

 

Thanks

[Ouisch]

It appears that the etymology of this phrase is rather cloudy...it originated as "pick back", and here's an interesting thread about the topic:

 

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&threadm=1g761dd.9tmk74q1s5j9N%25trio%40euronet.nl&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522piggyback%2522%252B%2522pick%2Ba%2Bback%2522%252B%2522pickapack%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26selm%3D1g761dd.9tmk74q1s5j9N%2525trio%2540euronet.nl%26rnum%3D1

[Steffiy]

Thanks that was really useful! Just what I was looking for!

[Kay]

Yeh it was originally " Pick a back" as the child would literally pick somones back to ride on.