MULL

“Tis the season when mulled wine makes its annual appearance. Mulled wine is heated wine enhanced by sugar, spices, and fruit. The origin of the word is obscure. Some say it refers to the powdered spices used to flavor it, but there is no unanimous agreement.

A listener called in to ask what the word mull means in, “I’ll have to mull this over.” It means to consider or ponder upon, and it may be based on a Dutch word meaning to ruminate.

What struck me was the multitude of words found in the Oxford English Dictionary sharing that spelling but coming from different sources with varying meanings. I’m always intrigued by multiple meanings, so let’s go down that path.

NOUNS:

·      something reduced to small particles

·      a suspension of finely ground solid in a liquid

·      a promontory or headland in Scotland

·      the lips of an animal

·      the female labia

·      a heifer

·      a thin variety of muslin fabric

·      a snuffbox

·      a muddle or mess

·      humus mixed with underlying mineral soil

·      mulled wine

VERBS:

·      to pulverize

·      to warm a wine, sugar, spice, and fruit mix

·      to massage

·      to reflect and ponder

·      to give something a granular surface

·      to moisten leather to make it supple

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