Mug Definition

mŭg

mugged, mugging, mugs

noun

mugs

A heavy drinking cup of earthenware or metal, having a handle.

Webster's New World

As much as a mug will hold.

Webster's New World

The face.

Webster's New World

The mouth.

Webster's New World

A grimace.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

mugged, mugging, mugs

To assault usually with intent to rob.

Webster's New World

To assault a person, usually with intent to rob.

Webster's New World

To photograph; esp., to photograph (a person under arrest) for police records.

Webster's New World

To make a grimace.

Webster's New World

To overact by exaggerated facial expressions.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

adjective

(archaic) Easily fooled, gullible.

Wiktionary

idiom

mug's game

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Mug

Singular:

mug

Plural:

mugs

1560s ("bowl, pot, jug"), of unknown origin, perhaps from North Germanic (compare Swedish mugg (“mug, jug"), Norwegian mugge (“pitcher, open can for warm drinks"), Danish mugge), or Low German mokke, mukke (“mug"), also of unknown origin. "Face" sense possibly from grotesque faces on certain drinking vessels. "Assault" sense of verb possibly from hitting someone in the face.

From Wiktionary
Probably from mug (possibly in allusion to mugs decorated with grotesque faces)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Perhaps of Scandinavian origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition