Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “muttonmonger” come from?

muttonmonger (English) comes from English mutton, from Middle English motoun, from Old French mouton, from Vulgar Latin molto, from Gaulish multon-, from Proto-Celtic moltos, from Proto-Indo-European (h₂)moldus, from Proto-Indo-European mel- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

muttonmonger (English): A pimp; A frequent customer of prostitutes

Definitions

  1. A pimp; A frequent customer of prostitutes

Ancestry of “muttonmonger”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmuttonThe flesh of sheep used as food; The flesh of...
2Middle EnglishmotounThe meat of sheep or a piece of it; mutton; A...
3Old Frenchmoutonsheep; mutton
4Vulgar Latinmoltowether
5Gaulishmulton-sheep
6Proto-Celticmoltosram, wether
7Proto-Indo-European(h₂)moldussoft, weak
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →