muttonchops

[ muht-n-chops ]

plural noun

1. side whiskers that are narrow at the temples and broad and trimmed short at the jawline, the chin being shaved both in front and beneath.

muttonchops

/ ˈmʌtənˌtʃɒps /

plural noun

1. side whiskers trimmed in the shape of chops, widening out from the temples

Word History and Origins

Origin of muttonchops¹

1860–65; mutton ¹ + chop ¹ + -s ³; so called from their shape

Example Sentences

“It’s a tradition going back over a century, to when children were invited to search for treats in Chester A. Arthur’s muttonchops.”

From New York Times

Beckerman’s descriptions of the major players are memorable — Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor was “all Irish brogue and ginger muttonchops,” while Futurist ringleader Filippo Marinetti, with his handlebar mustache and bowler hat, resembled “a silent movie villain about to tie a woman to the railroad tracks.”

From Washington Post

Others turn side to side, offering profile views: muttonchops, stripes.

From The New Yorker

“You’s gonna have to say good-bye to the beard and them muttonchops and that’s one sure ’nough impressive moustache you got there, but it’s got to be tamed down some too.

From Literature

Then the barber used some of them pointy killing-looking scissors to cut the cap’n’s chin and muttonchops down afore he soaped ’em up and shaved ’em off.

From Literature