mug

American  

[muhg] / mʌg /

noun

1. a drinking cup, usually cylindrical in shape, having a handle, and often of a heavy substance, as earthenware.

2. the quantity it holds.

3. Slang.

   1. the face.

   2. the mouth.

   3. an exaggerated facial expression; grimace, as in acting.

   4. a thug, ruffian, or other criminal.

4. British Slang. a gullible person; dupe; fool.

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verb (used with object)

mugged, mugging

1. to assault or menace, especially with the intention of robbery.

2. Slang. to photograph (a person), especially in compliance with an official or legal requirement.

verb (used without object)

mugged, mugging

1. Slang. to grimace; exaggerate a facial expression, as in acting.

mug ¹ British  

/ mʌɡ /

noun

1. slang a person's face or mouth

   get your ugly mug out of here!

2. slang a grimace

3. slang a gullible person, esp one who is swindled easily

4. a worthless activity

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verb

1. informal (tr) to attack or rob (someone) violently

2. slang (intr) to pull faces or overact, esp in front of a camera

mug ² British  

/ mʌɡ /

noun

1. a drinking vessel with a handle, usually cylindrical and made of earthenware

2. Also called: mugful.  the quantity held by a mug or its contents

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Etymology

Origin of mug

First recorded in 1560–70; probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish mugg, Norwegian, Danish mugge “drinking cup”; sense “face” apparently transferred from cups adorned with grotesque faces; sense “to assault” from earlier pugilistic slang “to strike in the face, fight”

Example Sentences

She’s sipping tea from a mug and reading the book I brought from Aunt Melissa.

From Literature

She gathered a stack of papers from the table and her coffee mug.

From Literature

In his other he held a travel mug of black coffee.

From Literature

His creativity and identity were stifled, he says, plus someone stole his “Halloween” movie mug for no reason.

From The Wall Street Journal

"And give him a mug of warm milk before he turns in."

From Literature

Related Words

• coffee cup
• jug