mot

Etymology 1

From French mot. Doublet of motto.

noun

1. A witty remark; a witticism; a bon mot.
   Here and there turns up a […] savage mot. 1859, unknown author, “Literary Adventure. Life of Douglas Jerrold”, in North British Review
   ‘He comes from Montreal, in Canada.’ ‘Why?’ she said, repeating Dr Johnson's mot with a forced sneer. 1970, John Glassco, Memoirs of Montparnasse, New York, published 2007, page 32
2. (obsolete) A word or a motto; a device.
   1597–1598, Joseph Hall, Virgidemiarum With his big title, an Italian mot
3. (obsolete) A note or brief strain on a bugle.

Etymology 2

Probably from Dutch mot (“woman”). See also mort (“woman”), etymology 5.

noun

1. (UK, Ireland, slang) A woman; a wife.
   Come wed, my dear, and let's agree, / Then of the booze-ken you'll be free; / No sneer from cully, mot, or froe / Dare then reproach my Bess for Joe; / For he's the kiddy rum and queer, / That all St. Giles's boys do fear. 1789, G. Parker, “The Sandman's Wedding”, in Farmer, John Stephen, editor, Musa Pedestris, published 1896
   And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, / A Newgate hornpipe some fine day; / With the mots, their ogles throwing, / Tol lol, &c. / And old Cotton humming his pray. 1829-07, Vidocq, Eugène François, Maginn, William, transl., “Noctes Ambrosiana [En roulant de vergne en vergne]”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, number 45, translation of En roulant de vergne en vergne, page 133
2. (UK, Ireland, slang) A prostitute.
3. (UK, Ireland, slang) A landlady.
   After some altercation with the "mot" of the "ken" (mistress of the lodging-house) about the cleanliness of a knife or fork, my new acquaintance began to arrange "ground," &c., for the night's work. 1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, volume 1, page 217