pig-lily, noun

Origin:
South African DutchShow more Translation of South African Dutch varklelie, vark pig + lelie lily, see quotation 1883.
obsolescent
The arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica of the Araceae, which grows profusely in damp places; varkblaar, -blom, see vark sense 2.
[1844 J. Backhouse Narr. of Visit 73By the sides of watercourses in the lower ground Zante-deschia aethiopica, grown in English greenhouses under the name of Arum and Lily of the Nile, was exhibiting its large white flowers abundantly. As swine are fond of its roots it is called in this country Pig-root.]
1848 C.J.F. Bunbury Jrnl of Res. at Cape of G.H. 188Calla (Zantedeschia) Æthiopica...Commonly called at the Cape the Pig Lily.
1861 ‘A Lady’ Life at Cape (1963) 6They..especially smile at my passion for the ‘arum’ which grows in all the ditches under the title of ‘pig-lily’ and reaches an enormous size.
1883 M.A. Carey-Hobson Farm in Karoo 42‘Please bring me some of those “arums”. What do the natives here call them?’...‘They are commonly called pig-lilies. Why, I do not know — unless it be that pigs are very fond of the roots, and eat them voraciously. I have also thought that it might be on account of the similarity in the shape of the large single convoluted petal to a pig’s ear.’
1887 A.B. Ellis S. Afr. Sketches 61Clusters of arum lilies, known to the Africander as ‘pig lilies’ whitened every gully.
1890 A. Martin Home Life 11Large, pure white arums, or, as the colonists unromantically call them, ‘pig-lilies’.
1906 H. Rider Haggard Benita 78Along the banks of the stream and around the borders of the lake the pig-lilies bloomed, a sheet of white.
1915 D. Fairbridge Torch Bearer 36‘Arums?’...‘She means pig-lilies,’ said Mrs. Roux with some contempt. ‘Arums is their English name, but I prefer to call them pig-lilies.’
1918 S.H. Skaife Animal Life in S. Afr. 119The arum lily hawk moth is common wherever the pig-lily grows wild in this country.
1925 F.C. Slater Centenary Bk of S. Afr. Verse 232There is no true arum in South Africa. The plant meant is probably Zantedeschia aethiopica. Often found in immense numbers in damp places. It is usually called ‘Arum Lily’ or ‘Pig Lily’.
1929 M. Alston From Old Cape Homestead 22They dig them up for pigs! But don’t you ever dare to call them pig-lilies in my hearing again.
1971 U. Van der Spuy Wild Flowers of S. Afr. for Garden 229It (sc. Zantedeschia aethiopica) is said to have been given the common name of ‘pig-lily’ because in the south-western Cape, where it grows prolifically, pigs are said to relish the rootstock.
The arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica of the Araceae, which grows profusely in damp places; varkblaar, -blom, see vark sense 2.
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obsolete or obsolescent
piggyback, adjectiveadj.pik, nounn.
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