pigskins
Footballs — the oval you throw, kick, or tote on Friday night.
Also called pigskin, football.
Updated September 24, 2026
pigskins pronunciation
/PIG-skinz/
Meaning
American footballs, nicknamed for the old leather (or the pig bladder inside early balls). In redneck and small-town Southern life, pigskins show up in the yard, the pasture, and under the Friday-night lights. Folks say pigskin for one ball and pigskins when they're talking balls in general or the season as a whole. Modern ones are usually cowhide, but the nickname stuck.
How folks use it
- “The boys are out back tossing pigskins till dark.”
- “Come September, this town lives and dies by the pigskins.”
Origin and etymology
Slang for a football by the 1890s. Popular story ties it to early balls made with a pig's bladder or a pig-leather cover; today's balls are mostly cowhide or synthetic. The name hung on in sports talk nationwide and sits natural in Southern high-school football culture.
Frequently asked questions
Are footballs really made of pig skin?
Not anymore. The name is leftover from older construction. Today's game balls are usually cowhide or man-made cover.