tantony pig

== English == === Etymology === Contraction of Saint Anthony's pig in honour of St Anthony, patron saint of swineherds, frequently shown with a little pig by his side. For the phonetic evolution, compare tawdry. === Noun === tantony pig (plural tantony pigs) (obsolete, slang) The favourite or smallest pig in the litter. 2002, Murray J Levith, Shakespeare's Merchant and Marlowe's Other Play in The Merchant of Venice: Critical Essays, ed John Mahon, Ellen MacLeod Mahon A “Tantony pig” is the smallest of a litter, a detail that might recall Antonio's description of himself in Shakespeare's play as the “tainted wether of the flock". ==== Synonyms ==== Anthony pig, tantony, Anthony === References === [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811), “Tantony pig”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.