origin of "muggle"

[James A. Landau]

from an interview with Joanne "J. K." Rowling, on the Web at URL
     http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrwbd.shtml

<quote>
I was looking for a word that suggested both foolishness and loveability. The
word 'mug' came to mind, for somebody gullible, and then I softened it. I
think 'muggle' sounds quite cuddly. I didn't know that the word 'muggle' had been
used as drug slang at that point... ah well.
</quote>


     - Jim Landau