hogget: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialized/Rural/Regional
Quick answer
What does “hogget” mean?
A young sheep, older than a lamb but not yet a full-grown adult (typically between one and two years old). Also, the meat from such an animal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A young sheep, older than a lamb but not yet a full-grown adult (typically between one and two years old). Also, the meat from such an animal.
In some regional usage (e.g., New Zealand), can refer to a young farm animal, particularly a colt. In historical/archaic use, could refer to a young boar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in UK farming and butchery. It is virtually unknown in general American English, where the lamb/mutton distinction predominates.
Connotations
UK: Technical, agricultural, specific to meat trade. US: Almost never used; would be puzzling to most listeners.
Frequency
Low frequency in the UK, almost zero in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “hogget” in a Sentence
The farmer raised several [hoggets].We're serving [hogget] tonight.This is [hogget], not lamb.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hogget” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The farmer discussed hogget management.
- It was a hogget carcass.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in livestock auctions, meat wholesale, and farm accounting.
Academic
Appears in agricultural science, veterinary studies, and historical texts on farming.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used at a specialist butcher's or farmers' market.
Technical
Precise term in sheep husbandry for an animal in its second year, often before its first shearing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hogget”
- Misspelling as 'hoggett' or 'hoget'.
- Using it as a general term for any young animal.
- Confusing it with 'hog'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lamb is meat from a sheep under one year old. Hogget is from a sheep between one and two years old. Mutton is from a sheep over two years old.
Extremely rarely. The term is predominantly British, Commonwealth, and used in specific farming/culinary circles. Most Americans would use 'lamb' or 'mutton'.
Historically, it could refer to a young boar. In some regions like New Zealand, it might be used for a young horse (colt), but this is non-standard. Its primary modern meaning relates to sheep.
It offers a compromise: more complex, richer flavour than lamb, while being significantly more tender and less fatty than mature mutton.
A young sheep, older than a lamb but not yet a full-grown adult (typically between one and two years old). Also, the meat from such an animal.
Hogget is usually specialized/rural/regional in register.
Hogget: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒɡɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːɡɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Neither lamb nor mutton (describing something intermediate/undefined, sometimes referencing hogget).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOGGET as a 'HOG-sized' young sheep (though not a hog/pig) – it's bigger than a lamb but not yet a full-grown sheep.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIFE STAGE metaphor: The adolescent or 'teenager' phase in the life of a sheep.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the word 'hogget'?