What To Know
- The reason we use the word mutton to describe goat meat is that, in the past, sheep and goats were both classified as mutton animals.
- In the United States, the term mutton is used to refer to the meat of sheep over 1 year old, while the term lamb is used for animals younger than 1 year.
- In the UK, however, the term mutton is often used to refer to the meat of younger sheep, while lamb is used for animals over 1 year old.
Goat meat is called mutton by many people. The reason is not far-fetched. The word mutton is derived from the Old French word “mouton” which means “a sheep or goat that has been domesticated.” While the word mouton can be applied to both sheep and goats, over time it has become associated mainly with sheep.
1. Misnomers Are Hard to Shake
I grew up eating “mutton,” and only learned later that the meat was actually from goats. The name mutton comes from the French word “mouton,” which means “sheep,” and has been used for goat meat for so long that it’s stuck.
Goats were domesticated over 4,000 years ago in Southwest Asia. They are incredibly adaptable and can survive in environments that would kill most other animals. This made them the perfect animal to domesticate, and they spread around the world from there.
While there is a lot of great meat to be found in the world, goat meat is in a category all its own. It’s far more robust and “goaty” than lamb, which is also excellent. If you get a chance to try goat, I highly recommend it. And if you’re already a fan, well, you’re in luck: It’s becoming more and more popular.
2. Why Did the Word ‘Mutton’ Originate?
The word “mutton” comes from the French word “mouton” which means “sheep”. The word “mouton” in turn comes from the Latin “Ovis” meaning “sheep”. The word “Ovis” in Latin also refers to a female sheep. The reason for using the word “mutton” specifically to refer to goat meat and not pork or beef is because of the way that the word was interpreted and used in the past.
In the past, the word “mutton” was used to refer to the meat of any sheep, and the meat of a goat was also considered to be mutton. This is because sheep and goat meat are very similar in taste and texture, and the two meats can often be used interchangeably in recipes. However, as time went on, the meaning of the word “mutton” began to change, and it became associated specifically with the meat of a goat.
3. What Does ‘Mutton’ Mean?
You have probably heard the term “mutton” used to describe goat meat before. Maybe you’ve seen “mutton chops” on a goat diagram. Maybe you’ve heard someone say that they prefer mutton over lamb. But why is goat meat called mutton? Is mutton the same as lamb?
The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. Let’s explore the differences between goat, lamb, and mutton to find out what’s going on here.
If you try to find the definition of mutton, you’ll see that it’s defined as the meat of sheep. But why is goat meat also called mutton?
The reason we use the word mutton to describe goat meat is that, in the past, sheep and goats were both classified as mutton animals. The word mutton comes from the French word “mouton” which means “sheep.
4. What Is Mutton Chops?
Mutton refers to meat from sheep over 1 year old. The origin of the word mutton comes from the French word mouton, which means “sheep”. The word mouton is derived from the Latin word for sheep, ovis. The word ovis is also the source of the English word ovate, which means “egg-shaped” or “oval”.
Sheep and goats are closely related, and their meat is similar in taste and texture. The meat from younger sheep is often called lamb. In the United States, the term mutton is used to refer to the meat of sheep over 1 year old, while the term lamb is used for animals younger than 1 year. In the UK, however, the term mutton is often used to refer to the meat of younger sheep, while lamb is used for animals over 1 year old.
5. What Is the Difference Between Mutton and Lamb?
Lamb is the name given to meat that comes from sheep that are less than a year old. Because sheep develop more quickly than other animals and can produce meat within the first year of their lives, there is a large supply of lamb available. Mutton, on the other hand, is the name given to the meat of an adult sheep. Mutton has a much stronger flavor than lamb and is not as common in modern cuisine. Some people also find mutton to be too gamey for their tastes.
In some countries, such as the United States, the term mutton is used to refer to the meat of sheep that are more than one year old. In these countries, the term lamb is used to refer to the meat of sheep that are less than one year old. The term yearling is often used to refer to the meat of sheep that are between one and two years old.
In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, the term mutton is used to refer to the meat of both adult and young sheep. However, in these countries, the term lamb is usually used to refer to the meat of sheep that are less than one year old.
The Bottom Line
The wooly, bearded farm animal that provides us with tasty cheese is not a goat, but a sheep. While this may come as a surprise to some, the fact is that “goat” is a misnomer. The animal that has horns and provides milk, meat and fiber is a sheep. And because of that, the meat from this animal is sheep meat, which is known as mutton.
