Where does “mutton” come from?
Mutton comes from Middle English moton, from Old French mouton, from Vulgar Latin molto, from Gaulish multon-, from Proto-Celtic moltos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (h₂)moldus and the root mel-.
mutton (English): The flesh of sheep used as food; The flesh of...
Definitions
- The flesh of sheep used as food; The flesh of...
Ancestry of “mutton”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | motoun | The meat of sheep or a piece of it; mutton; A... |
| 2 | Old French | mouton | sheep; mutton |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | molto | wether |
| 4 | Gaulish | multon- | sheep |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | moltos | ram, wether |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (h₂)moldus | soft, weak |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |