Will you accept a French elucidation of the etymon of this word, which has sorely puzzled your correspondents? What saith the Encyclopédie des Gens du Monde, tom. xix. (1843):
"Pique Nique.—Expression empruntée de l'Anglais, où elle est formée de pick, choisir, et nick, instant précis, et signifie choix judicieux où tout se rencontre bien. On se sert aussi en Français de cette locution pour désigner un repas où chacun paie son écot, ou bien auquel chacun contribue en fournissant un des plats."
The word is in Ménage (Dictionnaire étymologique, folio, 1694):
"Piquenique.—Nous disons faire un repas à pique-nique, pour dire faire un repas où chacun paye son écot: ce que les Flamans disent, parte bétal, chacun sa part. Ce mot n'est pas ancien dans notre langue; et il est inconnu dans la plupart de nos provinces."
Picnics were known and practised in the reign of James I. An amusing description of one is given in a letter from Sir Philip Mainwaring, dated Nov. 22, 1618. The knight is writing to Lord Arundel from Newmarket:
"The Prince his birth-day hathe beene solemnised heare by those few Marquises and Lords which found themselves heare, and to supplie the want of the Lords, Knights and Squires were admitted to a consultation, wherein it was resolved that such a number should meete at Gamiges, and bring every man his dish of meate. It was left to their own choyces what to bring: some strove to be substantiall, some curios, and some extravagant. Sir George Goring's invention bore away the bell; and that was foure huge brawny piggs, pipeing hott, bitted and harnised with ropes of sarsiges, all tyde to a monstrous bag-pudding."
And on the 28th of the same month, Mr. Chamberlain wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton:
"We hear nothing from Newmarket, but that they devise all the means they can to make themselves merry; as of late there was a feast appointed at a farmhouse not far off, whither every man should bring his dish. The king brought a great chine of beef, the Marquis of Hamilton four pigs incircled with sausages, the Earl of Southampton two turkies, another six partridges, and one a whole tray full of buttered eggs; and so all passed off very pleasantly."—Nichols's Progresses of James I., vol. iii. pp. 495. 496.
W. M. R. E.
[Mr. Arthur Wilson has written to us that this word is Swedish, and to be found in Widegren's Swedish and English Dictionary. We may add that it is also in Delens, but we do not believe it to be of Swedish origin. We believe it will eventually be traced to a French source.—Ed.]