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Etymology 1[edit]

Mullet catch
Wikispecies has information on:

Wikispecies From Old French mulet (now ‘grey mullet’), from Latin mullus ‎(red mullet), from Ancient Greek μύλλος ‎(múllos).


mullet ‎(plural mullets or mullet)

  1. A fish of the family Mullidae (order Syngnathiformes), especially the genus Mullus (the red mullets or goatfish).
  2. (chiefly US) A fish of the family Mugilidae (order Mugiliformes) (the grey mullets).
Derived terms[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

Or mullethead, possibly derived from the fish (see Etymology 1) or from mull (meaning to stupefy) though neither is certain.[1]


mullet ‎(plural mullets)

  1. A fool

Etymology 3[edit]

Apparently coined (and popularized) by hip hop group the Beastie Boys.


mullet ‎(plural mullets)

  1. A hairstyle where the hair is kept short on the top and sides and long at the back.
    • 1994, Beastie Boys "Mullet Head"
      Mullet head, don't touch the back
      – Cut the sides, don't touch the back
    • 2008, Danielle Corsetto, Girls With Slingshots 406
      – Maybe it's a curly fro.
      – Maybe every day is bad hair day!
      – Maybe it's a mullet!
  2. (slang) A person who mindlessly follows a fad, a trend, or a leader.
Usage notes[edit]

The hairstyle sense is particularly associated with the working class or even bad taste.

Derived terms[edit]

Etymology 4[edit]

From Old French molette ‎(rowel)


mullet ‎(plural mullets)

  1. (heraldry) A star with straight edges and usually with five or six points.
Coordinate terms[edit]


  1. ^