ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mullet

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈməɫət// UK //mˈʌlɪt// mul·let Slang

n. a type of fish with a long body and a small head. It is also a common name for a person who wears a very short haircut on the top of their head and a long, flowing hair on the sides.

n. a large, long-bodied fish of the family Mugilidae, characterized by a small head and a distinctive black spot on the dorsal fin. In a sociolinguistic context, it refers to a person with a specific hairstyle featuring a short, often balding top and long, flowing hair on the sides.


SIMPLE

He decided to grow his hair into a mullet.

CONTEXTUAL

The local fish market sells fresh mullet every Saturday morning during the summer season.

COMPLEX

While the mullet remains a staple of coastal cuisine, its association with the 'businessman' hairstyle has made it a subject of both fashion and social commentary in urban culture.

Etymology 1

From Middle English molet, mulett, from Old French mulet (now ‘grey mullet’), from Latin mullus (“red mullet”), from Ancient Greek μύλλος (múllos).

Etymology 2

Also termed a mullethead, possibly derived from the fish (see Etymology 1) or from mull (meaning to stupefy) though neither is certain.

Etymology 3

1994 US. Popularized and possibly coined by hip hop group the Beastie Boys in their song "Mullet Head".

Etymology 4

From Middle English molet, from Old French molette (“rowel”).

© 2026 English Reference