leg-of-mutton
C2 / RareSpecialized / Historical
Definition
Meaning
A cut of meat consisting of the leg of a sheep or lamb, especially when prepared for cooking.
A style or shape that resembles the form of a leg of mutton, particularly used in clothing (e.g., sleeves) or in objects with a similar tapered form.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term has a concrete, literal meaning referring to a food item and an extended, metaphorical meaning primarily used in fashion and design. It is largely historical or technical in contemporary use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, 'leg of lamb' is the more common culinary term, making 'leg-of-mutton' more archaic. The term is preserved in both varieties in historical or fashion contexts (e.g., leg-of-mutton sleeves).
Connotations
In both varieties, the term evokes historical, traditional, or rustic imagery. In fashion, it specifically references a late 19th/early 20th-century style.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Higher likelihood of use in British English in historical culinary contexts, but still rare.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + leg-of-mutton: roast/carve/serve a leg-of-mutton[Adjective] + leg-of-mutton: a huge/roasted leg-of-mutton[Preposition] + leg-of-mutton: dressed in leg-of-mutton sleevesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. The phrase is often the metaphor itself (e.g., 'leg-of-mutton sleeve').”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical, culinary history, or fashion history texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by older generations or in very specific regional/culinary contexts.
Technical
Used in historical dressmaking/costume design patterns and descriptions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Victorian blouse featured distinctive leg-of-mutton sleeves.
- She preferred the leg-of-mutton style for her historical costume.
American English
- The dress had a very 1890s, leg-of-mutton sleeve silhouette.
- He described the sail's shape as almost leg-of-mutton.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We ate roast leg-of-mutton for Sunday dinner.
- The old recipe book explained how to cook a leg-of-mutton slowly.
- Fashion illustrations from the 1890s often depict women wearing dresses with exaggerated leg-of-mutton sleeves.
- The tailor meticulously drafted the pattern for the leg-of-mutton sleeves, ensuring the characteristic fullness at the shoulder and narrow taper to the wrist.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cartoon SHEEP wearing a blouse with huge, puffed sleeves that look like two of its own legs. The 'leg-of-mutton' sleeve is shaped like a sheep's leg.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM/SHAPE IS ANIMAL BODY PART (The tapered, rounded shape of a cooked sheep's leg maps onto the shape of a sleeve or other object).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a word-for-word translation like 'нога баранины'. The correct culinary term is 'баранья нога' or 'ножка барашка'. For the sleeve, use 'рукав-баранья нога' or the established term 'рукав-жиго' (from French 'gigot').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a modern culinary term (prefer 'leg of lamb'). Misspelling as 'leg-of-mutton' without hyphens in its adjectival form (e.g., 'leg of mutton sleeve' is less standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'leg-of-mutton' most likely to be used in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a rare, specialized, or historical term. In cooking, 'leg of lamb' is standard. It survives mainly in historical descriptions of clothing.
It's a style of sleeve popular in the late 19th century, very full and puffed at the shoulder and upper arm, then narrowing dramatically to a tight fit from elbow to wrist, resembling the shape of a sheep's leg.
Yes, when hyphenated (e.g., leg-of-mutton sleeve, leg-of-mutton sail). This is its most common modern function.
'Mutton' refers to meat from an adult sheep, while 'lamb' is from a young sheep. Historically, 'leg-of-mutton' was standard, but today 'leg of lamb' is more common as lamb is more frequently consumed. The fashion term retains 'mutton' for historical accuracy.