Definitions

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb on a railroad flatcar
  • adverb on the back or shoulder or astraddle on the hip

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Virginia, the one aged seven, and the other barely four, seemed made of some precious material; she carried them pig-a-back, and was greatly mortified when Madame Aubain forbade her to kiss them every other minute.

    A Simple Soul 2003

  • Whether because Frodo was so worn by his long pains, wound of knife, and venomous sting, and sorrow, fear, and homeless wandering, or because some gift of final strength was given to him, Sam lifted Frodo with no more difficulty than if he were carrying a hobbit-child pig-a-back in some romp on the lawns or hayfields of the Shire.

    The Lord of the Rings Tolkien, J. R. R. 1954

  • When they saw her coming they ran to meet her, and Curly carried her into the house "pig-a-back."

    Boy Blue and His Friends Etta Austin Blaisdell

  • They rode pig-a-back races and sang all the songs.

    Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis 1917

  • They rode pig-a-back races and sang all the songs.

    Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916 1917

  • I agreed with my mother that such an one, however to be revered, was no substitute for the flesh and blood father possessed by luckier folk -- the big, strong, masculine thing that would carry a fellow pig-a-back round the garden, or take a chap to sail in boats.

    Paul Kelver, a Novel 1893

  • They rode pig-a-back races and sang all the songs.

    Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis Richard Harding Davis 1890

  • "Such a game as this I never learned in Amsterdam or New Amstel," thought Nanking, laughing good-naturedly; "I guess I will cut it short by riding one of their boys pig-a-back."

    Tales of the Chesapeake George Alfred Townsend 1877

  • He rode them pig-a-back on his broad shoulders; they liked to see him light his pipe and smoke without getting sick.

    Tales of the Chesapeake George Alfred Townsend 1877

  • "Hold on," he said; and the next minute the pretty bare arms were clinging tightly round his neck, the hands hidden in the man's grizzly tangled beard; and, pig-a-back fashion, he bore him on along the road.

    Quicksilver The Boy With No Skid To His Wheel George Manville Fenn 1870

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