Mot

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /məʊ/

Definitions

1. A concise and clever statement that often embodies a notable thought or concept
2. A brief and sharply expressed comment that conveys wit or insight
3. A short, clever utterance that often presents a striking idea concisely

Etymology: The word "mot" in its sense of a witty saying has a surprisingly crude possible ancestor. It may come from Dutch "mot," meaning a sow or a lecherous woman, though the link is uncertain. Its more solid relative is French "mot," simply "word," which English borrowed directly. That same Latin source, "muttum," gave English the doublet "motto," a short phrase or maxim. The two words split apart in English, one keeping a sharp, quotable sense and the other a formal inscription. The Dutch connection is worth a brief look. Dutch "mot" sits in a small group of related words, including "mort" and "moth," that were used as slang for women, possibly with the sense of a girlfriend. Scholars are not certain whether these share a common origin or whether the English word inherited any of that flavour, so the crude sense remains a possibility rather than a settled fact.

Synonyms: witticism, quip, epigram, bon mot, aphorism