(Vol. vii., p. 23.)
As I consider that the true origin of _pic-nic_ remains yet to be
discovered, permit me to try and trace the word through France into
Italy, and to endeavour to show that the land with the "fatal gift of
beauty" was its birthplace; and that when the Medici married into
France, the august ladies probably imported, together with fans, gloves,
and poisons, a pastime which, under the name of _pique-nique_, became,
as Leroux says in his _Dictionnaire Comique_, "un divertissement fort à
la mode à Paris."
I will not occupy space by quoting the article "at length" from Leroux,
but the substance is this:--Persons of quality, of both sexes, who
wished to enjoy themselves, and feast together, either in the open air
or in the house of one of the number, imposed upon each one the task of
bringing some particular article, or doing some particular duty in
connexion with the feast. And to show how stringent was the expression
_pique-nique_ in imposing a specific task, Leroux quotes "considérant
que chacun avait besoin de ses pièces, prononça un _arrêt_ de
pique-nique." (_Rec. de Pièc. Com._)
Thus, I think Leroux and also Cotgrave show that the word _pique-nique_
involves the idea of a task, or particular office, undertaken by each
individual for the general benefit.
Let us now go to Italian, and look at the word _nicchia_. Both from
Alberti and from Baretti we find it to bear the meaning of "a charge, a
duty, or an employment;" and if before this word we place the adjective
_piccola_, we have _piccola nicchia_, "a small task, or trifling service
to be performed." Now I think no one can fail to see the identity of the
_meanings_ of the expressions _piccola nicchia_ and _pique-nique_; but
it remains to show how the words themselves may be identical. Those who
have been in the habit of reading much of the older Italian authors
(subsequent to Boccacio) will bear me out in my statement of the
frequency of contraction of words in familiar use: the plays,
particularly, show it, from the dialogues in Machiavelli or Goldoni to
the libretto of a modern opera; so much as to render it very probable
that _piccola nicchia_ might stand as _picc' nicc'_, just as we
ourselves have been in the habit of degrading _scandalum magnatum_ into
_scan. mag._ It only remains now to carry this _picc' nicc'_ into
France, and, according to what is usual in Gallicising Italian words, to
change the _c_ or _ch_ into _que_, to have what I started with, viz. the
_divertissement_ concerning which Leroux enlarges, and in which, I am
afraid, it may be said I have followed his example.
However, I consider the _Decameron_ of Boccacio as a probable period
where the temporary queen of the day would impose the _arrêt_ of
_pique-nique_ upon her subjects; and when I look over the engravings of
the manners and customs of the Italians of the Middle Ages, all
indicating the frequency of the _al fresco_ banquets, and find that
subsequently Watteau and Lancret revel in similar amusements in France,
where the personages of the _fête_ manifestly wear Italian-fashioned
garments; and when we are taught that such parties of pleasure were
called _pique-niques_, I think it is fair to infer that the expression
is a Gallicised one from an Italian phrase of the same signification.
I do not know if it will be conceded that I have proved my case
_positively_, but I might go so far _negatively_ as to show that in no
other European language can I find any word or words which, having a
similar sound, will bear an analysis of adaptation; and though there is
every probability that the custom of _pic-nic_ing obtained in preference
in the sunny south, there are few, I think, that would rush for an
explanation into the Eastern languages, on the plea that the Crusaders,
being in the habit of _al fresco_ banquetting, might have brought home
the expression _pic-nic_.