Piggyback
Origin
A corruption of pickaback, itself a corruption of pick-pack, like a pack.
Adjective
piggyback
- On somebody's back or shoulders.a piggyback ride
- 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)
Synonyms
- (on somebody's back or shoulders) pooseback some US dialects
Verb
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (transitive) to carry someone on the back or shoulders.