mullet

¹

[ muhl-it ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) mul·let, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) mul·lets.

1. any of several marine or freshwater, usually gray fishes of the family Mugilidae, having a nearly cylindrical body.
2. a goatfish.
3. a sucker, especially of the genus Moxostoma.

mullet

²

[ muhl-it ]

noun

, Heraldry.

1. a starlike charge having five points unless a greater number is specified, used especially as the cadency mark of a third son.

mullet

³

[ muhl-it ]

noun

1. a hairstyle in which the hair is short in the front and at the sides of the head, and longer in the back.

mullet

¹

/ ˈmʌlɪt /

noun

1. any of various teleost food fishes belonging to the families Mugilidae (grey mullet) or Mullidae (red mullet) See also grey mullet red mullet
2. the US name for grey mullet

mullet

²

/ ˈmʌlɪt /

noun

1. a hairstyle in which the hair is short at the top and long at the back

Word History and Origins

Origin of mullet¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English molet, mulet, melet, from Old French mulet “red mullet,” from Latin mullus “red mullet,” from Greek mýllos, a kind of unidentified fish ; -et

Origin of mullet²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English molet(te), from Old French molete “rowel of a spur,” equivalent to mole “millstone” ( French meule ) + -ette diminutive suffix; -ette

Origin of mullet³

First recorded in 1990–95; perhaps by shortening of mullethead “blockhead, fool”; popularized and probably coined by U.S. hip-hop group the Beastie Boys

Word History and Origins

Origin of mullet¹

C15: via Old French from Latin mullus, from Greek mullos

Origin of mullet²

C20: origin unknown

Example Sentences

Last year, the pūteketeke won the competition after comedian John Oliver threw his weight behind it, launching a campaign that involved him dressing up as the bird, complete with a striking burnt-orange mullet.

From BBC

Thomas was indelible in the 1980s, the age of mullets, leg warmers and “The Fall Guy” in which she played stuntwoman Jody Banks opposite a bounty hunter created by Lee Majors.

From Los Angeles Times

It made subject Joe Exotic, an eccentric felon with an affinity for mullets, tattooed eyeliner and big cats, into a household name.

From Los Angeles Times

So what does he call someone sporting a mullet?

From BBC

And, you know, we cast an actor with long hair and I said, “Are you willing to get a mullet?”

From Los Angeles Times