muttonchops
LowInformal, Historical
Definition
Meaning
Facial hair grown down the sides of the face in front of the ears, while the chin is clean-shaven.
Often refers to the style of sideburns popular in the 19th century, named for their resemblance to a cut of mutton (sheep meat). It can also be used figuratively to describe something shaped like this facial hair.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a plural noun (muttonchops). The singular 'muttonchop' is less common but can refer to a single sideburn or the meat cut. The term is strongly associated with Victorian-era fashion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties. The meat cut 'mutton chop' is more commonly referenced in UK English due to greater historical consumption of mutton.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly connotes the 19th century (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, Victorian gentlemen). Can have a humorous or old-fashioned connotation.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, used mainly in historical or stylistic discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He has/grew/sported + muttonchops.His + muttonchops + were + adjective.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Historical: 'Muttonchop whiskers' is the full phrase.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, cultural, or fashion studies discussing 19th-century appearance.
Everyday
Used descriptively when discussing historical figures, costumes, or distinctive facial hair.
Technical
Used in barbering/hairdressing contexts to describe a specific facial hair style.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's attempting to muttonchop his way through Movember.
- After watching a period drama, he decided to muttonchop his beard.
American English
- He's going to muttonchop his sideburns for the historical reenactment.
- The barber was asked to muttonchop his client's facial hair.
adjective
British English
- He had a distinct muttonchop appearance.
- The actor wore a rather unconvincing muttonchop beard for the role.
American English
- His muttonchop style was the talk of the party.
- He admired the old muttonchop portrait in the hall.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old man in the picture has big muttonchops.
- He does not have a beard, only muttonchops.
- My grandfather grew impressive muttonchops in his youth.
- Abraham Lincoln is famous for his muttonchops.
- The Victorian gentleman in the novel was described as sporting enormous, bushy muttonchops.
- For the historical play, the actor had to grow genuine muttonchops, not just wear prosthetics.
- The resurgence of elaborate facial hair styles has seen a niche interest in muttonchops among hipster communities.
- His meticulously waxed muttonchops were an anachronism in the modern office, yet they commanded a certain respect.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sheep (MUTTON) with big, fluffy chops (sides of its face) - now picture that on the sides of a man's face.
Conceptual Metaphor
BODY PART IS FOOD (The sideburns are named for their resemblance to a cut of meat).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation "бараньи отбивные" refers only to the meat, not the facial hair. The correct term is "бакенбарды" (bakenbardy), though "баки" (baki) is a common colloquial term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'muttonchop' (singular) to refer to the pair of sideburns. Confusing them with a goatee or full beard. Misspelling as 'mutton chops' (which is the meat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'muttonchops'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the facial hair style, it is almost exclusively used in the plural form 'muttonchops'. The singular 'muttonchop' refers to a cut of meat or, rarely, one side of the facial hair.
All muttonchops are sideburns, but not all sideburns are muttonchops. 'Muttonchops' specifically describes sideburns that are wide and bushy at the bottom, resembling the shape of a mutton chop cut of meat, and are typically worn with a clean chin.
While historically and almost exclusively a male style, the term could be applied descriptively to a similar pattern of hair or sideburn on anyone, though it is exceptionally rare in reference to women.
Yes, but its frequency is low. It is used mainly to describe the historical style, in barbering, or humorously/descriptively when someone sports similar facial hair in modern times.