mug

[muhg]

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.

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

/ 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

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mug¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mug¹

C18: perhaps from _mug ¹ , since drinking vessels were sometimes modelled into the likeness of a face

Origin of mug²

C16: probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish mugg

Example Sentences

Most Serbian voters have a strong affinity for Russia, and tourist shops outside Belgrade’s biggest tourist attractions sell mugs and T-shirts with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face on them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Vinyl records, classic books, nostalgic toys, funky mugs, serving dishes and high-end kitchenware are all popular gifts sold at Goodwill stores, Crawley said.

Read more on MarketWatch

“The weather is challenging for singing because it’s so humid, but it’ll be fine,” Patti Smith says, before reaching for the mug.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Its managers say the cafe has been packed since April when it began serving draft beer -- a German Warsteiner with 0.0 percent alcohol, poured into large mugs and served with peanuts, pub-style.

Read more on Barron's

He had searched every one of those sickeningly quaint villages, with their happy yodelers and endless mugs of hot chocolate, but to no avail.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• coffee cup 
• jug