▪ I. mouton
(ˈmuːtɒn)
Forms: 4–6 moto(u)n, 5 mutoun, 6 motton, 7, 9 mutton, 6–9 mouton.
[a. OF. mouton, lit. ‘sheep’ (see mutton).]
1. Hist. A French gold coin, bearing the figure of the Lamb of God (whence the name), current in the 14th and 15th centuries.
The ‘mouton’ issued by Edw. III and Hen. V for use in the English possessions in France, is said to have had the value of five shillings sterling.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 24 Mildeliche Mede..gaf..The leste man of here meyne a motoun of golde. 1494 Fabyan Chron. (1533) 104 b/1, A moton is a coyne vsed in Fraunce and Brytayne, and is of value after the rate of sterlynge money vppon v. s. or there aboute. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clxxi. 208 These thre estates [France, 1356] made newe money to be forged of fyne gold, called moutons. 1562 Leigh Armorie 229 Certeyne skinnes, of this beast [the Panther], whiche were valued, at 5000 mottons of gold. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vi, My father..will pay you gallantly—a French mutton for every hide I have spoiled. 1894 S. Lane-Poole Coins & Medals 111 The gold coins of Edw. III. were the guiennois..and mouton (Paschal Lamb). Ibid. 112 Henry V. struck in gold moutons and demi-moutons. |
2. Hist. (See quot.) Cf. ram.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccciiii. 701 They..made..a marueylus gret engyn, xx. fote large and xl. foote longe; they called this engyn a moton; it was to cast gret stones into the towne to beate downe houses. |
‖ 3. (Pronounced (mutɔ̃).) A spy quartered with an accused person with a view to obtaining incriminating evidence.
| 1804 Edin. Rev. III. 442 A mouton, or jail-spy [was] quartered in his chamber. 1902 Lang Hist. Scotl. II. ix. 239 A mouton or prison-spy had extracted much of the truth from Bailey. |
4. (See quot. 1950.)
| 1950 Webster Add., Mouton, the skin of sheep, usually of Merino Sheep, processed, sheared, and dyed to resemble beaver or a certain type of seal. 1963 Retail Trading-Standards Assoc. Bull. Aug./Sept. 3/1 The following names [for furs] may be used notwithstanding the general rule:—Animal: Sheep (skin). Accepted Trade Name: Lamb or Mouton. |
▪ II. mouton
obs. form of mutton.