mutton

noun

mut·​ton ˈmə-tᵊn 

: the flesh of a mature sheep used for food

muttony

ˈmə-tᵊn-ē 

ˈmət-nē

adjective

Examples of mutton in a Sentence

a meal of mutton and potatoes

Recent Examples on the Web

When customers walk into the shop they’re greeted by ghoulish masks of past presidents, a wall of wacky, colorful wigs and an impressive collection of stick-on mutton chops, mustaches and goatees in a glass counter. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024

Get ready for thrilling rodeo events like bull riding, barrel racing, mutton busting, and roping. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024

Also, there’s just not a ton to do in most of Kansas, so why not hop on a horse or bust some mutton? 3. —Allyson Reedy, The Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2024

An impressive collection of stick-on mutton chops, mustaches and goatees — all made of real human hair — is neatly arranged underneath a glass counter. —Christopher Intagliata, NPR, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English motoun, mutton, sheep, from Anglo-French mutun ram, sheep, mutton, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish molt wether

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mutton

• leg-of-mutton
• leg-o'-mutton
• mutton dressed as lamb

Video

Words of the Year: 1066

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

Kids Definition

mutton

noun

mut·​ton ˈmət-ᵊn 

: the flesh of a mature sheep used for food

Etymology

from French mouton "sheep"