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

Dusty mugs and bowls sat on a shelf; otherwise the walls were bare.

Read more on Literature

It closed that day at $193.60, delivering a prompt lesson that investing in stocks based on claims touted online is a mug’s game.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A giant mug of instant black coffee and no food is not what you'd expect the host of a wellness podcast to have for breakfast.

Read more on BBC

He accused Reeves of "trying to treat the public like mugs", pointing out that she voted to trigger the Article 50 process that led to the country leaving the EU.

Read more on BBC

One of her daughters brought her tea, but she said she struggled to hold the mug because her hands had developed a tremor since she was detained.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coffee cup 
• jug