Why is the word ‘Mug’ commonly used as a stand-in for ‘Face’?

If you're caught breaking the law, you’ll probably end up at the police station where officers will take a picture of your face. These photos are called “mug shots,” a term that arises from the slang use of ‘mug’ to mean ‘face.’ While there’s no concrete proof of how this came to be, many point to the influence of 18th-century British Toby jugs.

The Connection Between Jugs and Faces

The American Toby Jug Museum in Illinois explains that the original Toby jugs were ceramic pitchers designed to depict “a cheerful, stout man sitting, dressed in period clothes, wearing a tricorn hat, smoking a pipe, and holding a mug of ale.”

Who Toby was remains a mystery. Some believe he’s based on Sir Toby Belch, the loud and rowdy character from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Others argue he’s inspired by Henry Elwes, a notorious Yorkshire drinker of the time. Elwes earned the nickname “Toby Philpot” (or “Fillpot”) and was immortalized in the drinking song “The Brown Jug.”

The song describes Toby: “In boozing about ’twas his pride to excel, and amongst jolly topers he bore off the bell,” portraying him as “a thirsty old soul” who sits “with a friend and a pipe, puffing sorrow away.” Toby dies unexpectedly, and his body eventually becomes part of the clay beneath the grave. The tale concludes when a potter discovers the clay and forms it into a brown jug for ale.

The Journey from Jug to Mug

As time went on, potters began creating vessels that featured likenesses of various people and characters. While the original Toby jugs depicted full figures with a spout for pouring liquids, many subsequent versions were simpler mugs that only showcased the subject’s face.

The faces on these mugs were often exaggerated, which could explain why the term mug is frequently used to describe an unattractive face, a comical expression, or even a foolish person. Given that mug shots rarely capture anyone looking their best, the usage of the term feels particularly fitting.