A tantony pig is the runt of the litter. This term derives from the name of St. Anthony of Egypt, patron saint of swineherds. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Tantony Pig”
Grant, do you know the term tantany or tantany pig? Tantany, I just learned it. Sounds like the mascot from one of those old corrupt political parties in New York City in the 1800s.
Oh, it kind of does, right? Maybe I’m thinking of Tammany.
Yeah, tantany. What’s a tantany pig? It’s the runt of the litter. It’s the littlest one.
How do you spell tantony? T-A-N-T-O-N-Y.
What?
Never heard of it. That’s amazing. I love it when it’s something that’s completely new to me.
Yes, me too. And guess who the patron saint of swine herds is and is often shown accompanied by a pig.
Which saint?
Oh, Tancredes or whatever.
Saint Anthony.
Oh.
Yeah, so a tantony pig is a little pig protected by Saint Anthony.
So it’s a corruption of Saint Anthony?
Yes. Yes.
Like Taudry is from St. Taudry.
How about that?
Yeah.
Tantany pig.
For the runt.
Yeah, the littlest one.
Yeah, when I was a kid and we were picking out pets, we always picked the runt for some reason.
We were kind of the family that picks the runts.
There you go.
Yeah, you always pick the tantany.
But the runt of a pig, you know, they’re tiny, but they grow up.
When they turn 650 pounds, you have a different relationship with the animal.
One year later.
