Picnic comes from a word for lynching
| Picnic comes from a word for lynching | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "The word "picnic" originated from "pick a [racial slur]," describing gatherings where white families watched lynchings." | |
| Domain | Language, Folklore & Urban Legends |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 1999 |
| Origin | A chain email in 1999, later repeated on social media and occasionally by public institutions |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Language, Folklore & Urban Legends | |
The claim that picnic comes from a word for lynching spread through email in the late 1990s and led some organizations to avoid the word. "Picnic" comes from the French pique-nique, recorded in the late 17th century, long before lynchings in the United States. It entered English in the 18th century.
The claim
The email said the word was coined to describe events where Black people were lynched and white families brought food.
What the evidence shows
- French origin. Pique-nique appears in French in the 1690s and referred to a meal to which everyone contributed.
- English use. The word is recorded in English by the 1740s.
- Real history. Lynchings in the US were sometimes public spectacles attended by crowds, which made the false etymology seem plausible.
Sources
- Oxford English Dictionary, "picnic."
- Snopes, "Picnic."