1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, ii. 3. What ails you,
sweetheart? Are you not well? Speak, good muss.
Verb. (American).—To confuse; to disorder; to mess-up.
Mussy, adj. (American).—Disordered. Also mussed-up.
1888. Detroit Free Press. Neither of us got two winks of sleep
during the night on the car, and Mr. Bowser narrowly escaped coming
into deadly conflict with conductor and porter. We reached Chicago
in a mussed-up condition.
Mustang, subs. (American).—An officer entering the U. S. navy from the
merchant service, after serving through the Civil War.
Mustard-pot, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see
Monosyllable.
Mutcher, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.
1862. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., iv. 282. They loiter about the streets
and public-houses to steal from drunken persons, and are called
‘Bug-hunters’ and mutchers.
Mute, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mute. An undertaker’s servant, who
stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being
supposed mute with grief.
Mutton (or laced mutton).—1. A loose woman. Generic for the sex.
1569. Bracton, De Legibus, ii. Courtisans ... oves.
1578. Whetstone, Promos and Cas., 6, pl. i. p. 14. And I smealt he
loved lase mutton well.
1594. Greene, Frier Bacon, in Wks. (Grosart), xiii. 94. The old
lecher hath gotton holy mutton to him, a Nunne my lord.
1595. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, i. 1. Ay, sir: I, a lost
mutton, gave your letter to her, a lac’d mutton; and she, a lac’d
mutton, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.
1596. Nashe, Have with You, [Grosart (1885), iii. 61]. He that wold
not stick so to extoll stale rotten lac’d mutton, will ... sucke
figges out of an asses fundament.
1599. Breton, Wil of Wit [Grosart (1879), ii. c. 62/1. 18]. If your
stomache stande to flesh, eate of a little warme mutton, but take
heede it be not laced.
1602. Middleton, Blurt Master Constable, sign. B. Laz. Pilcher,
Cupid hath got me a stomacke, and I long for lac’d mutton. Pil.
Plaine mutton without a lace would serve.
1602. Dekker, Honest Whore [Dodsley, Old Plays, iii. 365]. Baa,
lamb, there you lie, for I am mutton.
1604. Marlow, Doctor Faustus [Nares]. I am one that loves an inch
of raw mutton, better than an ell of dride stockfish; and the first
letter of my name begins with letchery.
1606. Return from Parnassus [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 180].
But there’s no pleasure always to be tied to a piece of mutton ...
For mine own part ... I am well-provided of three bouncing wenches.
1608. Machin, Dumb Knight [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), x. 134]. ‘She
is meat for your master.’ ‘And your man, sir, may lick your foul
trencher.’ ‘Ay, but not eat of his mutton.’
1614. Cook, City Gallant [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), xi. 279]. More
villany; there’s another goodly mutton going.
1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, ii. I’ll tender her a husband; I keep
of purpose two or three gulls in pickle To eat such mutton with,
and she shall choose one.
1624. Jonson, Masque of Nep. Triumph [Cunningham, iii]. Cook. O
whom for mutton, or kid? Child. A fine lac’d mutton Or two; and
either has her frisking husband.
1638. Rowley, Match at Midnight. ii. 1. Say she be young ... If,
like an old cock he with young mutton meet He feeds like a cuckold.
1640. Rawlins, The Rebellion, iv. No more, I say, it is a parcel of
excellent mutton. I’ll cut it up myself.
1640. T. Heywood, Love’s Mistress, ii. [Cupid described as] Lord of
lamentations, and Monsieur of mutton-lac’d.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, i. p. 353. I’m a loyn of mutton
plainly dress’d, And those nice volk, love all their mutton lac’d.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Laced Mutton, a prostitute.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Laced Mutton, a common woman.