mule

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An animal that is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.

   The farmer used a strong mule to carry his goods up the mountain.

2. 2
   noun

   A stubborn person.

   You can't change his mind; he's as stubborn as a mule.

3. 3
   noun

   A person paid to carry illegal drugs from one place to another.

   The police arrested a drug mule at the airport.

From Middle English mule, from Anglo-Norman mule and Old English mūl, both from Latin mūlus, from Proto-Indo-European *mukslós. Compare Late Latin muscellus (“young he-mule”), Old East Slavic мъшкъ (mŭškŭ, “mule”), Ancient Greek (Phocian) μυχλός (mukhlós, “he-ass”), and German Maul Maultier, Maulesel (through Latin).

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