Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1789, 1857-1931
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PIGGIN, n. Also -an, -en, peggin, peigan. [′pɪgən]
1. A vessel, gen. of wood, tub-shaped and with one stave extended to form a handle, used as a milk-pail, feeding-dish, etc. (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1965); a small ladle or scoop for baling a boat or laving fishing nets (Kcd. 1911). Also in Eng. dial.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 37:
Each with a piggin, of pitch and lint.s.Sc. 1857 Wilson's Tales of the Borders VIII. 162:
Attending the neighbouring fairs with the water-cogs, cream-bowies, bickers, piggins.Gsw. 1863 H. Macdonald Poems 218:
Gin a' werena redd to his min', Or gin some broken piggin he grippet.Fif. 1887 G. Gourlay Old Neighbours 86:
Wet with sweat as with the spindrift at the pump or the "peggin'".Per. 1888 Strathearn Mag. (15 Feb.) 15:
Bring the can and pigging, To hold the luscious buttermilk.Sh. 1900 Manson's Sh. Almanac 126:
Da mate sent wir bairn up ta da tapmast head wi' a tar piggin.Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (17 Dec.) 10:
She gave him a piggin and sent him to wash himself.
2. An earthenware jar (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1965).
[Etym. uncertain. Found in Eng. from 16th c. Meaning 2. is due to confusion with Pig, n.2, which is a different word.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Piggin n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/piggin>
