mutton

¹

[ muht-n ]

noun

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

mutton

²

[ muht-n ]

noun

, Printing.

1. em ( def 2 ).

mutton

/ ˈmʌtən /

noun

1. the flesh of sheep, esp of mature sheep, used as food
2. mutton dressed as lamb
   mutton dressed as lamb an older woman dressed up to look young
3. See nut, em
   printing another word for em Compare nut

Derived Forms

• ˈmuttony, adjective

Other Words From

• mutton·y adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutton¹

C13 moton sheep, from Old French, from Medieval Latin multō, of Celtic origin; the term was adopted in printing to distinguish the pronunciation of em quad from en quad

Example Sentences

I am willing to bet that you have not eaten mutton in the last six months, probably the last six years.

From Freakonomics

Cue heartbroken Galavant engorging himself on booze and mutton back home.

From The Daily Beast

The co-owner of Metropolis Collectables, Vincent has Wolverine mutton chops, a Tony Stark goatee, and Lex Luthor swagger.

From The Daily Beast

The speciality was mutton tagine, softly braised in the tagine pot with peas, vegetables, and spices.

From The Daily Beast

Mutton Tagine in Zaita, Morocco This photo was taken at a tiny roadside town on the drive to Fez.

From The Daily Beast

Generally, meat gets stringier, gamier, and less tasty as the animal ages: compare mutton (an old sheep) to lamb.

From The Daily Beast

Do not gastronomists complain of heaviness in London after eating a couple of mutton-chops?

From Project Gutenberg

No doubt, having feasted on mutton so long, he had got a little sick of it, and thought he would make a dinner on beef.

From Project Gutenberg

They mostly raise a few sheep and goats; the sheep are a poor lot, the wool is of a very inferior class, and the mutton poor.

From Project Gutenberg

My wife and I to church this morning, and so home to dinner to a boiled leg of mutton all alone.

From Project Gutenberg

M. Noel, in a dress-coat, very dark skinned and with mutton-chop whiskers, came forward to meet us.

From Project Gutenberg