Etymology

mug

M3U1G2

Today it means: A large cup for beverages, usually having a handle and used without a saucer. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

mug · noun, verb, adjective1

Early 16th century (originally Scots and northern English, denoting "earthenware, pot, jug"), of unknown origin, perhaps from North Germanic (compare Swedish mugg (“mug, jug”), Norwegian mugge (“pitcher, open can for warm drinks”), Danish mugge), or Low German mokke, mukke (“mug”), German Low German Muck (“drinking cup”), Dutch mok (“mug”), also of unknown origin. Perhaps related to Old English muga (“stack”) and Old Norse múgr (“mass, heap (of corn)”). Compare also Middle English mug, mog (“a measure of salt”).

mug · noun2

Informal variant of motherfucker.

MUG · proper noun3

Abbreviation.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.