* "Pig" and "tail": The most likely explanation is that the word comes from the resemblance of the braided hairstyle to a pig's tail.
* Dutch origin: Another theory suggests the word comes from the Dutch "pigstaart" (pig's tail), possibly introduced to English by sailors.
* Middle English: Some sources cite the word "pigtail" appearing in Middle English as "pigteyl," which might have referred to a type of braid or even a pig's tail itself.
Ultimately, the exact origin of "pigtails" is unclear, but the connection to the pig's tail is the most prevalent and widely accepted explanation.