pigface

English

Wikispecies

Alternative forms

• pig-face, pig's-face

Etymology

From pig +‎ face.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪɡfeɪs/

Noun

pigface (plural pigfaces)

1. Any of various mesembryanthemums of the genus Carpobrotus, native to coastal areas of Australia, and producing edible fruits.
   • 1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin, published 2009, page 124:

     The road cut through sand dunes spread patchily with pigface and tumbleweeds and led obliquely to the sea […]

   • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 256:

     that other fleshy plant, the one called pig-face, had lain across a corner of the cliffs like vivid pink shantung flung across a draper's counter.

   • 2015, Magda Szubanski, Reckoning, Text Publishing, page 52:

     My father was forever trying to tame this lumpen block, buttressing it with rock gardens and rock walls garlanded with pigface, courtesy of my mother.

2. (informal, derogatory) Term of abuse for an ugly person.

   Shut up, pigface!