Mugshot
/ˈmʌɡ.ʃɒt/noun
A photograph of a person's face, typically taken after an arrest.
Did you know?The term 'mug' in 'mugshot' originally referred to a person's face, but it also has roots in slang for 'to make a face' or 'to grimace'—hinting at the discomfort of being photographed in a police lineup!
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
mugge
“A term for the face, often used in a derogatory sense.”
18th Century
English
mug
“Slang for a person's face, especially an ugly or foolish one.”
1860s
English
shot
“A photographic image or picture.”
1900s
English
mugshot
“A police photograph taken after an arrest, combining the slang for face with the concept of photography.”