Pygg is a type of orange clay, once widely used for making pottery in the form of jars, cookware, and other household items due to its economical characteristics.[1]
A piggy bank was originally a "pygg jar." Later, the word "pygg" became less common, and its sound was reinterpreted as "pig"; only then did piggy banks actually begin to be made in the shape of a pig. The original pronunciation of "pygg" was probably closer to "pug," but over time the pronunciation changed due to the Great Vowel Shift and became a homonym of "pig."[2]
See also
References
- ^ Acton, Johnny; Tania Adams, Matt Packer (2006). Origin of Everyday Things. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 9781402743023.
- ^ "What's the origin of the piggy bank?". The Straight Dope. http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpiggy.html. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
External links
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