mullet
UK[ˈmʌlɪt]US[ˈmʌlɪt]
n
A type of edible sea fish that is widely caught.
n
A hairstyle in which the hair is cut short at the front and sides but left long at the back.
Etymology
The word 'mullet' for the fish entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'mulet', a diminutive of 'muil', which itself derived from Latin 'mullus', meaning 'red mullet'. The Latin term is traced back to Greek 'mýllos', a name for a type of fish. The hairstyle meaning, popularized in the 1980s, is a much later metaphorical extension. It is humorously named after the fish, as the hairstyle's shape was thought to resemble the silhouette of the creature, demonstrating how modern culture can attach new meanings to ancient words.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword. Its form does not allow for segmentation into productive morphemes within modern English spelling.
Examples
The fisherman caught a large grey mullet in the estuary.
His 1980s mullet hairstyle was a source of both pride and gentle teasing.
Grilled mullet is a common dish in Mediterranean coastal towns.