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

Sometimes there are pantheras, moreish pan rolls made of crêpes stuffed with spicy mutton mince. —Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026

First made popular in the late 1800s, burgoo typically includes a variety of fresh vegetables and a mixture of mutton, beef, pork, or poultry. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

Sporting Robert Shaw’s distinctive fisherman’s cap, flinty and crooked grin, and swarthy mutton-chop sideburns, Gildart Jackson’s is an evocative portrayal of Robert Shaw. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026

Sheep are overwhelmingly bred and slaughtered for meat, either lamb or mutton. —U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026

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"