piggybacked
|pig-gy-back|
/ˈpɪɡiˌbæk/
(piggyback)
ride on a back; attach to or take advantage of something larger
Etymology
'piggyback' originates from English alteration of the earlier word 'pickaback' (Middle English), where 'pick(a)-' related to 'pick' or 'lift' and 'back' meant 'the back of a person or animal.'
'piggyback' changed from the Middle English term 'pickaback' (also spelled 'pick-a-back' or 'pick pack') and eventually became 'piggyback' by folk alteration in early modern English; the form 'piggy-' likely arose by association with the familiar diminutive '-y' rather than any direct link to 'pig.'
Initially, it referred specifically to carrying someone on the back; over time it broadened to figurative senses such as attaching to or making use of an existing system or advantage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a ride on someone's back; a piggyback ride.
The kids took turns giving piggybacked rides at the playground.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to carry someone on one's back or shoulders; to give a piggyback ride.
She piggybacked her little brother across the stream.
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Verb 2
to make use of something that already exists (a system, service, audience, etc.) to gain an advantage; to attach onto or depend on something else for benefit.
The small app piggybacked on the social network's popularity to gain users quickly.
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Adjective 1
attached to or combined with a primary item as a secondary component or addition.
They released a piggybacked module that extends the main software's features.
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Last updated: 2025/12/07 02:35