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

In addition to serving traditional English mutton chops, Keens is renowned for its extraordinary clay pipe collection. —Michael Solomon, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

The rodeo at Dickies Arena has events including barrel racing, bull riding, roping and sometimes even mutton busting. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025

Ole South serves breakfast each day, too, though there’s no mutton included on the morning menu. —Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 23 July 2025

The resulting sheets of tiny threads are broken up and cooked in mutton broth, then finished with a touch of sheep’s milk cheese. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 16 July 2025

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

Rhymes for mutton

• button
• clutton
• glutton
• witan
• unbutton

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"