Here's a breakdown of the evidence:
* Early Usage: The earliest known recorded use of "pique-nique" in French literature was in 1732, in a play by the French writer Jean-François Regnard. The term then quickly gained popularity and was used in various contexts throughout the 18th century.
* Evolution to "Picnic": The French term "pique-nique" was adopted into English in the late 18th century. Initially, it was spelled "pique-nique" or "pic-nic" but eventually evolved to the more familiar "picnic" by the 19th century.
* Meaning: The original meaning of "pique-nique" was a casual meal or gathering where participants contributed food, aligning with the common understanding of a picnic today.
While there are no definitive documents proving the exact origin of the word, the strong association with the French phrase and its early usage strongly suggest this as the most plausible source.
However, it's important to note that language evolution is complex, and there might be other contributing factors or variations of the story that we haven't yet uncovered.