piggyback

Alternative forms

• piggy-back
• piggy back

Etymology

A corruption of pickaback, itself a corruption of pick-pack, like a pack.

Adjective

piggyback (not comparable)

1. On somebody's back or shoulders.

   a piggyback ride

2. Pertaining to transportation of goods where one transportation unit is carried on the back of something else. For example, a truck on a train.

   Until this time the railroads had favored piggyback services (...) (John H. Mahoney, Intermodal Freight Transportation, 1985)

Adverb

piggyback (not comparable)

1. On somebody's back or shoulders.

   to ride piggyback

Verb

piggyback (third-person singular simple present piggybacks, present participle piggybacking, simple past and past participle piggybacked)

1. (transitive) To attach or append something to another (usually larger) object or event.

   They tried to piggyback that proposal on the rivers and harbors bill.

   The popular host can’t claim credit for the trade, though. The idea wasn’t his. He piggybacked off another successful investor who had a history of picking winners.

2. (transitive, Internet) To obtain a wireless internet connection by bringing one's own computer within the range of another's wireless connection without that subscriber's permission or knowledge.
3. (transitive, Internet) Utilizing last mile wiring (not wireless slang) rented from a larger owner ISP by a smaller ISP, last milers are obligated to sell to competitors in places like Canada.
4. (transitive) to carry someone on the back or shoulders.
5. To transport a lorry / truck on a flatbed railway waggon

Noun

piggyback (plural piggybacks)

1. A ride on somebody's back or shoulders.
2. An act or instance of piggybacking.
   • 2000, Craig Allen, Eisenhower and the Mass Media: Peace, Prosperity, and Prime-time TV

     The GOP had done its homework prior to bargaining for these piggybacks.

References

• NY Times, article on wireless piggybacking