Picnic

When you think of picnics, do woodpeckers or spears come to mind!? These words are related to the origins of the word picnic.
 
The word picnic first appears in 1748 but was rarely used until the 1800s. Originally, a picnic was a fashionable English social affair held either indoors or outdoors. Every participant contributed something to the picnic table similar to a buffet or potluck event.
 
The word picnic comes from French piquenique (1690s), from piquer (to peck, to pick) and a Germanic term nique (a worthless thing). A picnic, in this context, was first about nibbling or snacking rather than a formal meal. A picnic was about socializing, not just about eating. Forms of piquenique or picnic also show up in 18th century German, Danish, and Swedish.
 
During the 19th century, the word picnic came to mean a pleasure party in which the members carry provisions on an excursion to some place in the country. Picnic basket is from 1857. Picnic table; i.e., a folding table for outdoor dining, is from 1858. The sense of a picnic as something easy is from 1886.
 
What about those woodpeckers and spears?
 
French piquer (to pick, to puncture, to pierce), from Old French pic (a sharp point or spike), is the source of French pique (from the 1510s, a spear; known in English as pike). Other related European words at that time for spear include Spanish pica, Italian pica, Provencal piqua, all possibly from Germanic or Celtic sources.
 
Another suggestion for the origin of French piquer is Latin piccare (to prick, to pierce) and Latin picus (woodpecker). The scientific (or Latin) name for the bird family of which woodpeckers are members is Picidae.
 
‘To go on a picnic’ is from 1842.
 
I hope all this has piqued your interest in picnics… and word origins!
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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