mutton

¹ American  

[muht-n] / ˈmʌt n /

noun

1. the flesh of sheep, especially full-grown or more mature sheep, used as food.

---

mutton ² American  

[muht-n] / ˈmʌt n /

noun

Printing.

1. em.

---

mutton British  

/ ˈmʌtən /

noun

1. the flesh of sheep, esp of mature sheep, used as food

2. an older woman dressed up to look young

3. printing another word for em Compare nut

---

Other Word Forms

• muttony
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of mutton¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English moton “sheep,” from Old French, from Celtic; compare Breton maout “wether,” Middle Irish molt, Welsh mollt

Origin of mutton²

First recorded in 1935–40; code term, coined to differentiate the pronunciation of em quad from en quad

---

Explanation

If you order mutton at a restaurant, you'll be served a kind of meat that comes from an adult sheep. It's not, however, very common to see mutton on a menu. Use mutton when you're talking about eating the flesh of a sheep. In the United States, it's more common to dine on lamb, which is meat that comes from a baby sheep, although mutton is a popular dish in other parts of the world. Mutton has been in use since the 13th century, from an Old French root word, moton, "mutton, ram, or sheep." In the 1860s, long sideburns called mutton chops were a popular style of facial hair.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mutton

Alongside heaping plates of spiced rice — filled with generous chunks of tender mutton and buttery marrow and slivers of fried golden onions — were bowls of a humble condiment.

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2026

In the 19th century, children gobbled chiles and mutton and turnips and jellied pig’s brain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The accused men found some meat in the fridge that the family insists was mutton, and held it as proof.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025

The silvery mutton chops peeking out from beneath a weather-beaten train engineer’s cap.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

The stew smelled like thyme and roast mutton that night, and when Beatrice lifted the lid, the fragrant steam wafted up in a hot cloud.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---