mug2

 
Pronunciation: /mʌg/

verb (mugs, mugging, mugged)

[with object] (mug something up) British informal
  • learn or revise a subject as far as possible in a short time: I’m constantly having to mug up things ahead of teaching them [no object]: we had mugged up on all things Venetian before the start of the course

Origin:

mid 19th century: of unknown origin