noun
mutton
MUT-un/ˈmʌtn/
Meat from an adult sheep.
A leg of mutton and thick chops rest on the butcher's board.
Etymology
Old French moton named both the sheep and its meat, and English once shared both uses. The selected meaning preserves the food sense rather than the animal sense.
In context
The meat of an adult sheep is known as mutton, and mutton is virtually unheard of here in the United States.
More examples
- She slowly simmers the mutton until it becomes tender.
- Mutton has a stronger flavor than lamb.
- We serve mutton stew with potatoes and carrots.
Forms
mutton
Similar words
- lamb
- Meat from a young sheep, usually milder and more tender.