Mutton \Mut"ton\, n. [OE. motoun, OF. moton, molton, a sheep,
wether, F. mouton, LL. multo, by transposition of l fr. L.
mutilus mutilated. See Mutilate.]
1. A sheep. [Obs.]
--Chapman.
Not so much ground as will feed a mutton. --Sir H.
Sidney.
Muttons, beeves, and porkers are good old words for
the living quadrupeds. --Hallam.
2. The flesh of a sheep.
The fat of roasted mutton or beef. --Swift.
3. A loose woman; a prostitute. [Obs.]
Mutton bird (Zo["o]l.), the Australian short-tailed petrel
(Nectris brevicaudus).
Mutton chop, a rib of mutton for broiling, with the end of
the bone at the smaller part chopped off.
Mutton fish (Zo["o]l.), the American eelpout. See
Eelpout.
Mutton fist, a big brawny fist or hand. [Colloq.]
--Dryden.
Mutton monger, a pimp. [Low & Obs.]
--Chapman.
To return to one's muttons. [A translation of a phrase from
a farce by De Brueys, revenons [`a] nos moutons let us
return to our sheep.]
To return to one's topic, subject of
discussion, etc. [Humorous]
I willingly return to my muttons. --H. R.
Haweis.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |