42 Slang Words That Were Popular in Past Decades But Disappeared from the World

In the past, the term ‘mutton shunter’ was a colloquialism used to describe a policeman. Originating in British English slang during the early to mid-20th century, the term juxtaposes the image of a police officer with the task of “shunting” or directing sheep, implying the authority and control they had over the populace.

‘Mutton’ refers to the meat of mature sheep, suggesting the officer’s age and experience in law enforcement. While it’s not used today, we can still learn a lot from this term about how slang reflects cultural perceptions of authority figures and societal dynamics within urban communities.