jaw
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: jô
ipa: /d͡ʒɔː/
enpr: jô
ipa: /d͡ʒɔ/
ipa: /d͡ʒɑ/
rhymes: -ɔː
Forms: form: jaws
Etymology: From Middle English jawe/jowe (“jaw; sides of the lower face”, 14th century), the further origin of which is disputed. Either:
* From Anglo-Norman jowe, from Old French joe (“cheek; jaw”), from Vulgar Latin *ga(v)ota (“cheek”), of uncertain further origin.
** It has been objected that the rhyming of jowe (“jaw”) with clowe (“claw”) in Middle English demonstrates that it did not have the vowel /uː/. This would be a concern if /uː/ were the vowel to expect from a borrowing of the Old French word, which it is not. Compare English paw < Middle English pawe/powe < Anglo-Norman powe < Old French poe.
* From Middle English *chowe, from Old English *ċēowe. The main difficulties with this theory are the notable lack of evidence and the late attestation of chaw (early 16th century). If it is correct, then the further origin would be Proto-West Germanic *keuwā (“jaw”), whence Saterland Frisian Kiuwe, Dutch kieuw, German Keu, Käu. For the initial consonant, compare jowl as a variant of chavel/chawl.
It is also conceivable that the word is a merger of two coincidentally similar sources. Gradually displaced Middle English chavel (from Old English ċeafl).
Senses: glosses: One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
examples: text: His jaw dropped in amazement.
text: I'm up and jaws are on the floor
Lovers in the bathroom and a line outside the door
ref: 2020 April 3, Chappell Roan, Dan Nigro, “Pink Pony Club”performed by Chappell Roan:
glosses: The part of the face below the mouth.
examples: text: the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
glosses: Anything resembling the jaw (sense 1) of an animal in form or action; the mouth or way of entrance.
glosses: A notch or opening.
examples: text: the jaw of a railway-car pedestal.
glosses: A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.
examples: text: the jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
glosses: One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
examples: text: Give me the boy, now, and no more of your jaw. I am going to take the boy home with me.
ref: 1869, Henry Kingsley, Silcote of Silcotes:
text: "A lot you care," said Digory fiercely. "But I'm sick of this jaw. What have I got to do?"
ref: 1955, C[live] S[taples] Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew, London: The Bodley Head, →OCLC:
glosses: Impudent, abusive, or worthless talk.
glosses: An axle guard.
topics: ball-games
games
hobbies
lifestyle
snooker
sports
glosses: The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.
Derived terms: bis-phossy jaw
bisphossy jaw
bottle jaw
crackjaw
double open jaw
foot-jaw
glass jaw
Habsburg jaw
hog jaw
hold one's jaw
jaw away
jaw ball
jaw beard
jawblock
jawbone
jaw-bone
jaw bone
jawbox
jawbreaker
jaw-breaker
jawbreaking
jaw-dropper
jaw-dropping
jaw-droppingly
jawfall
jawfallen
jawfish
jawfoot
jaw-jack
jaw-jaw
jaw-jutting
jawless
jawlike
jawline
jaw muscle
jaw plate
jawsmith
jaw-twister
jaw winking
jaw worm
jawy
knifejaw
lantern jaw
lantern-jawed
lockjaw
longjaw
loosejaw
lower jaw
lumpy jaw
make someone's jaw drop
netherjaw
open jaw
overjaw
phossy jaw
pi-jaw
radium jaw
ratchet jaw
set of one's jaw
slack-jawed
someone's jaw dropped
stickjaw
trap-jaw ant
trap jaw ant
underjaw
upper jaw
wapper jaw
with one's jaw in one's lap
Related terms: chin