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jaw

noun
/d͡ʒɔː/UK/d͡ʒɔ/US/d͡ʒɑ/

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).

  1. derived from *ga(v)ota✻ — “cheek”
  2. derived from joe — “cheek; jaw”
  3. derived from jowe
  4. inherited from jowe — “jaw; sides of the lower face”

Definitions

  1. One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.

  2. The part of the face below the mouth.

    • His jaw dropped in amazement.
    • I'm up and jaws are on the floor Lovers in the bathroom and a line outside the door

  3. Anything resembling the jaw (sense 1) of an animal in form or action

    Anything resembling the jaw (sense 1) of an animal in form or action; the mouth or way of entrance.

    • the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
  4. ›+ 15 more definitions

    1. A notch or opening.

    2. A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.

      • the jaw of a railway-car pedestal.

    3. One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for…

      One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.

      • the jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.

    4. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.

    5. Impudent, abusive, or worthless talk.

      • Give me the boy, now, and no more of your jaw. I am going to take the boy home with me.
      • "A lot you care," said Digory fiercely. "But I'm sick of this jaw. What have I got to do?"

    6. An axle guard.

    7. The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.

    8. To assail or abuse by scolding.

    9. To scold

      To scold; to clamor.

    10. To talk

      To talk; to converse.

      • Today the beastly boat is level at last and the sun’s out and we have all been jawing about what to do.

    11. (of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.

    12. To pour or throw out.

      • Bletherum bore her to the vestry, Jaw'd some water in her face; […]
      • Nae need to jaw watter on a droun'd moose.

    13. To splash

      To splash; to surge.

      • 'Twas freezin', thowin', rainin', snawin', In souple turns; While sheughs an' deep fur-drains were jawin' To spate the burns.
      • ... a burn "whiles jawin' like a sea."
      • ... stately tower, […] Whilk proud defies the jawing wave, Built on a rock[…]

    14. A wave, a billow, a breaker.

      • Upo' the briny Borean jaws to float,
      • ... a craft […] That, like the white sea-mew, jinket the jaws On the briny breist o' the main.
      • ... ugly , ugly were the jaws That rowd unto their knee.

    15. A dash or spurt of water

      A dash or spurt of water; any large quantity of water or other liquid.

      • But sweetly bends the reamin' bicker, To drown dull care in jaws o' liquor.
      • The nauseous mixture fell, When full in play; Wi' jaws upon the sprawling hash, […]
      • But Fisher - Willie and the lairds […] wash't their gebbies and their beards In sparklin' jaws o' claret. They're comin'! cry'd a bodie out; They're comin' now[…]

The neighborhood

Derived

bis-phossy jaw, bisphossy jaw, bottle jaw, crackjaw, double open jaw, foot-jaw, glass jaw, Habsburg jaw, have wind in one's jaw, hog jaw, hold one's jaw, jaw away, jaw ball, jaw beard, jawblock, jaw-bone, jaw bone, jawbone, 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 · +32 more

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at jaw. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01jaw02framework03beams04beam05knees06knee07horse08mammal

A definitional loop anchored at jaw. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at jaw

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA