What is the origins of the word piggy-back?

Question

Given that we normally don't ride pigs.

Answer 1

Turns out it has nothing at all to do with pigs. The expression we know is a corruption of a sixteenth century expression that took various forms: pickback, a pickback, a pick pack, on pick pack, pick-a-pack.

It is generally thought that "pick" is a variation of our word "pitch", meaning "throw."

The full expression probably meant something like "a pack pitched (onto one's back)," or "(a burden) pitched on one's back."

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960816
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/24122

Answer 2

The expression "piggyback" comes from "pick a pack". In the old days — and I guess even now — it was common practice for individuals who had to carry a heavy object to invariably place it on their back. This method of carrying things around was called "pick a pack". And `pick a pack' when said quickly became `pickapack'. Parents often carried their children "pickapack" too. But children because they loved animals so much changed "pickapack" to "piggyback".
Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/edu/2001/11/27/stories/2001112700260200.htm
The term has its origins in Aberdeen Scotland. A 15th century land-owner and pig farmer, by the name of Adam Dunnings, became famous for using the same giant saddleback pig to carry him to work every day for 20 years. This story is also the origin of the name 'saddleback' as the pig was 'saddled' by the farmer. When the pig died the farmer honored his beast by eating him.
Source:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006050313290
Piggyback, the main sense of which is '(of something carried, esp. a person) carried on the back or shoulders', dates back to the sixteenth century, but is found in many different forms. The earliest forms vary widely: pickback, a pickback, a pick pack, on pick pack, and pick-a-pack were all in use before 1700.
Source:http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960816

Answer 3

I just tried to look it up with no luck.. But I did find out that to freeze the balls off a brass monkey is the brass canon ball holder that was on ships years ago. When it would get cold out side the brass monkey (the canon ball holder) would change sizes because of the cold and the balls would roll off it.

So it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.

Has to be something like that. So the answers above could be right.

I give where did it come from?

Answer 4

Doggy style was the original name up until the 1398 ad. The greeks took it and renamed it piggy bank. Once columbus left india he renamed it back to doggy style as he saw an elephant and a dog sharing some quality animal time together doing a pooh.

Answer 5

It started when Bill Clinton was asked to describe his wife as she got out of the shower.
He said" Oh my God Miss piggy's back"

Answer 6

Don't you hate it when they don't know, and make up dumb chit? I truly don't know the answer, but at least I tell you to google it or check wikipedia.
Good luck.