What is the origin of the word "picnic"?

Answer by  dollgirl (636)

There has been mis-information on the internet that the term "picnic" has its origins in racial cruelity and lynching, and my child's college professor even stated this. Fortunately, this is a myth, and the word comes from 17th century French, "piquenique", derived from the verb "piquer", meaning "to pick".

Answer by  asanson (253)

The term picnic originates from the french word piquenique. Originally it was a group of french people getting together like a potluck and just enjoying each other company.