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| Shy little piggy (photo by James) |
BONEEN
Noun. Anglo-Irish. Plural boneens, same. Mid-19th century.
[Irish bainbhin, from banbh sucking-pig + -in diminutive suffix.]
A young pig.
I can't claim to one for pets; as a general rule, I prefer that humans and animals share different dwelling spaces. However, if ever there was one animal that might just have a chance of swaying me, it would be the humble pig. Yes, as I sit in my office, tapping away at my keyboard, the one animal I could really see snuffling away at my feet is my very own pet pig; they're just that damn cute.
Where this love affair with pigs started is impossible to pinpoint, although my Mum did frequently call me and my brothers pigs (something to do with the state of our bedrooms). Piglet was always my favourite character in Winnie the Pooh, and to this day I can't watch Babe without getting a little tearful at the end: "That'll do, pig. That'll do."
Should I ever somehow acquire the land and space to actually have a pet pig, a contender for its name would have to be Boneen, or a derivative thereof, such as Bonnie, Bon or Ben. There's also bonham, another Anglo-Irish word for 'sucking-pig', but for me boneen stands alone in being pretty enough, charming enough, and downright cute enough to be bestowed upon my pet pig.
Do you have a pet pig? Would you?
Do please leave your porkiest comment here.
Yes I'd also love a Boneen.
ReplyDeleteAlong with some apple sauceen, some mustard masheen, and dollops of gravyeen.
Mmmm Babe....
Well, I'm partial to bacon sarnie myself, but that's not really in the spirit of things here, and it certainly wouldn't be *my* boneen ...
DeleteAfter today's post I'm staying to wonder if Helena Bonham Carter is actually just Helena Carter with a childhood nickname.
ReplyDeleteIf Lexicolatry is prompting such profound thoughts, then it's doing its job; I'm a happy blogger indeed.
DeleteI see you've never had the honour of cleaning out a pig pen.
ReplyDeleteUmm ... you're right ... I haven't. Have you?? Urbane urbanite city-slicker bobo Bibi? And my boneen will be house-trained. So there.
DeleteI have :) City-Bibi went to a summer camp at a farm when she was 12 and got to clean a pig pen, walk a cow, feed and pet the chickens and the goats (goats are really aggressive, by the way), bake my own bread... Was fun! ^^
DeleteYou've been to a summer camp and done all of that but you've never bivouacked?
DeleteAnd do cows need walking? I've never heard a dairy farmer say: "I is just takin' Daisy f'walk, my love."
Actually, I've never heard a dairy farmer say anything. And I've no idea how to type like a farmer.
Cows walk, every now and then, that's how they get places. This one had to be walked from the stables back to her usual spot in the field.
DeleteGo places? Go places.
DeleteWell, yes ... I know cows walk ... but what I meant was ... it's just that ... oh never mind. I've lost all credibility : o )
DeleteEd and bibi, I told a few people today that I read lexicolatry, to make me look cleverer, when they read it.
ReplyDeleteYou've let me down frankly. Please try to make tomorrow's comments more integillent.
-clueless
I do apologise, C. Tomorrow's word will be the most intellectualist ever, and Bibi's comments will be uberly penetratingly insightful. Promise.
Delete(@clueless: hahahaha)
ReplyDeleteOh... I like bacon too much to have a pig as a pet. But I agree with you that people and animals should share different dwelling places. I was walking the other day and there was a woman in front of me pushing a stroller, so as I passed by her, I was startled because there was a small dog in it.
Pets in clothes, pushchairs, wills, etc ... no no no ... definitely not.
DeleteHi Ed,
ReplyDeleteI think that Boneen would be the cutest name ever for a pet pig, I especially love the Irish ring to it! Oh and by the way, you've discovered a new talent. Typing like a farmer. Well done! It must be in your genes or linked to your place of birth... :)
Chlobo
Why thank you Chlobo - aren't you just full of compliments today ...
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