Tantony Pig
Preserved but no longer current.
The smallest pig of a litter, which, according to the old proverb, will follow its owner anywhere. So called in honour of St. Anthony, who was the patron saint of swine- herds and is frequently represented with a little pig at his side.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tantony Pig” mean?
The smallest pig of a litter, which, according to the old proverb, will follow its owner anywhere. So called in honour of St. Anthony, who was the patron saint of swine- herds and is frequently represented with a little pig at his side.
Is “Tantony Pig” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.