moue
UK[muː]US[muː]
n
a pouting expression used to show annoyance or to be coquettish.
Etymology
the word 'moue' entered english in the 19th century, borrowed directly from the french word of the same spelling and meaning. the french term itself derives from the middle dutch 'mouwe', meaning a protruded lip. this dutch root is imitative in origin, likely mimicking the facial gesture of pushing the lips forward. the journey from an onomatopoeic germanic root to a refined french loanword captures the word's essence: a stylized, often playful, pout.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from french and is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
she made a little moue of disappointment when she heard the news.
his charming moue was met with laughter from the audience.
the child responded with a theatrical moue, pretending to be offended.