pigskin

American  

[pig-skin] / ˈpɪgˌskɪn /

noun

1. the skin of a pig.

2. leather made from it.

3. Informal. a saddle.

4. Informal. a football.

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pigskin British  

/ ˈpɪɡˌskɪn /

noun

1. the skin of the domestic pig

2. leather made of this skin

3. informal a football

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adjective

1. made of pigskin

Etymology

Origin of pigskin

First recorded in 1850–55; pig ¹ + skin

Example Sentences

Any fan with a sacred good luck ritual and any player who’s thanked the man upstairs for a touchdown knows the two overlap as tightly as a freshly laced pigskin.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

Yes, that QB had three standout receivers in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk, but the man spinning the pigskin was what sold out stadiums.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2024

It is a riveting account, though its pleasures — like those of watching grown men nearly kill one another over a pigskin — are ultimately distressing.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2023

William Burr, a senior analyst at the nonprofit National Security Archive at George Washington University, published a report Tuesday detailing his recent research into the presidential pigskin.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 18, 2023

“I’ve been keeping this pigskin for something like this,” he said.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman