noun

mitten

MIH-tuhn

Mitten (noun) means a hand covering with one section for the thumb and a single pouch for the other four fingers. Example: “She knitted a pair of mittens for the baby.”

noun

A hand covering with one section for the thumb and a single pouch for the other four fingers.

"She knitted a pair of mittens for the baby."

"His fingers were too cold to grip anything through the thick mittens."

A patch of fur on a cat or dog's paw that is a different colour from the rest of its coat.

"The kitten had white mittens on all four paws."

How to use mitten

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA winter glove that keeps the fingers together for warmth, unlike a regular glove.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "gloves," which have a separate section for each finger.

Easily confused with

gloves

Common pairings

a pair of mittens woolly mittens

Word forms

mittened past tense, mittens plural, mittens singular

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She knitted a pair of _____ for the baby.

Etymology

From Middle English "myteyne," borrowed from Old French "mitaine," of uncertain origin — possibly linked to a word for "cat" (playfully comparing the shape to a cat's paw) or to a Germanic word meaning "middle/half."

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for mitten

bitten kitten Witten written smitten Britten unwritten handwritten

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mitten” mean?

The word “mitten” means a hand covering with one section for the thumb and a single pouch for the other four fingers. In plain terms, a winter glove that keeps the fingers together for warmth, unlike a regular glove.

How do you pronounce “mitten”?

“Mitten” is pronounced MIH-tuhn (/ˈmɪtən/ in IPA).

How do you use “mitten” in a sentence?

Here is “mitten” used in a sentence: “She knitted a pair of mittens for the baby.”

What part of speech is “mitten”?

“Mitten” is a noun.

Where does the word “mitten” come from?

The word “mitten” comes from Old French. From Middle English "myteyne," borrowed from Old French "mitaine," of uncertain origin — possibly linked to a word for "cat" (playfully comparing the shape to a cat's paw) or to a Germanic word meaning "middle/half.".

How many meanings does “mitten” have?

“Mitten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand covering with one section for the thumb and a single pouch for the other four fingers.