# jaw

Pronunciation: say "JAW" US /d͡ʒɔ/, UK /d͡ʒɔː/

## Noun

1. One of the bones forming the frame of the mouth, in which the teeth are usually set.
   - Simple: One of the two bones that hold the teeth and shape the mouth.
   - _The surgeon carefully reset the patient's fractured jaw._
   - _Crocodiles have powerful jaws lined with rows of sharp teeth._
2. The lower part of the face, under the mouth.
   - Simple: The lower part of the face, below the mouth.
   - _She rested her jaw on one hand while she listened to the lecture._
   - _The boxer took a hard hit to the jaw in the final round._
3. One of a pair of opposing parts that move toward or away from each other to grasp or crush something between them.
   - Simple: One of two parts that move together to hold or crush something between them.
   - _Each jaw of the wrench grips one flat side of the nut._
   - _The crusher's steel jaws can pulverize solid rock in a single pass._
4. An opening or entrance that resembles an animal's mouth in form or action; a mouth-like way in.
   - Simple: A wide opening shaped like an animal's open mouth, where something enters.
   - _The mine's entrance gaped like a great jaw in the hillside._
   - _Travelers seemed to vanish into the jaws of the mountain pass._
5. A component whose notch or fork is designed to keep an object in position.
   - Simple: A notched or forked part shaped to hold an object in place.
   - _The jaw on the camera mount grips the tripod head so it won't slip._
   - _A forked jaw at the end of the lever cradles the rotating shaft._
6. A notch or opening cut into a part or surface.
   - Simple: A notch or gap cut into something.
   - _Fit the peg into the jaw at the edge of the plank._
   - _The gate swung from a hinge set into a narrow jaw in the post._
10. The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to a pocket on a billiards or snooker table.
   - Simple: On a snooker table, the curved edge of the cushion right next to a pocket.
   - _The red rattled in the jaws of the corner pocket before finally dropping._
   - _She lined up the shot perfectly but clipped the jaw and missed._
13. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed into a half circle so it can move freely against the mast.
   - Simple: The rounded inner end of a sail's pole that wraps around the mast so it can swing.
   - _The carpenter shaped the jaw of the gaff to hug the mast._
   - _A worn jaw lets the boom rattle against the mast in heavy seas._
14. A fitting that holds and guides an axle box, keeping the axle correctly aligned in the frame. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A frame that holds an axle in place and keeps it from moving sideways.
   - _A cracked jaw let the axle shift dangerously on the rails._
   - _The fitter tightened the jaw to hold the axle box steady._
15. A sea wave, such as a great swell or a breaker. *(dialectal, Northern England, Scotland)*
   - Simple: A large wave or wall of water rolling in from the sea.
   - _A great jaw of green water broke over the bow._
   - _The fishermen watched each jaw climb higher as the storm built._
16. A sudden rush or splash of water, or any large amount of water or other liquid. *(dialectal, Northern England, Scotland)*
   - Simple: A sudden splash or large amount of water or other liquid.
   - _A sudden jaw of seawater soaked everyone in the boat._
   - _He emptied a great jaw of water from the bucket onto the fire._

## Verb

7. To talk or chat, especially in a relaxed, informal way. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To talk in a friendly, relaxed way, often for a long time.
   - _The old friends jaw about politics whenever they run into each other._
   - _He'll jaw with anyone who stops long enough to listen._
8. To attack or abuse someone by scolding them.
   - Simple: To scold someone harshly with angry words.
   - _Critics jaw the mayor for every small mistake he makes._
   - _He jawed his assistant loudly in front of the whole office._
9. To scold; to make a loud, complaining clamor.
   - Simple: To scold or shout in a loud, noisy way.
   - _The crowd jawed and booed at the referee's call._
   - _Customers jaw constantly whenever the prices go up._
11. Of a ball, to come to rest wedged between the jaws at the mouth of a pocket rather than falling in.
   - Simple: Of a ball, to get stuck in the narrow opening of a pocket instead of dropping in.
   - _Balls often jaw in the corner pockets on this old table._
   - _A nervous player can jaw an easy black by hitting it too hard._
17. To pour out or throw out, as a liquid. *(dialectal, Scotland)*
   - Simple: To pour or throw out a liquid in a quick rush.
   - _Sailors jaw the bilge water over the side each morning._
   - _She jawed the last of the tea out of the pot._
18. To splash against or surge over something. *(dialectal, Scotland)*
   - Simple: To splash or wash against something with force.
   - _Heavy seas jawed the harbor wall through the night._
   - _Storm tides jaw the breakwater whenever the wind turns north._

## Adjective

19. Occurring only in a handful of fixed expressions, chiefly the names of a small twanging mouth instrument and the person who plays it.
   - Simple: Used only in a few set terms, mostly names for a small mouth-played musical instrument and its player.
   - _The shepherd played a soft melody on his jaw harp._
   - _Every village fair seemed to have at least one jaw harpist._

## Noun

12. Insolent, abusive, or empty talk; idle chatter not worth hearing. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Rude, cheeky, or pointless talk that nobody wants to hear.
   - _Enough of your jaw. Get on with the job._
   - _The foreman had no patience for the new hand's constant jaw._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–14** — From Middle English "jawe" or "jowe" ("jaw; sides of the lower face," 14th century), whose further origin is disputed. It may come from Anglo-Norman "jowe," from Old French "joe" ("cheek; jaw"), ultimately of uncertain origin; or from a Middle English "*chowe," from Old English "*ċēowe," which would trace back to Proto-West Germanic "*keuwā" ("jaw"). It gradually displaced Middle English "chavel."
**Meanings 15–18** — Of uncertain origin, attested since 1513 (as a verb and noun) in Scots. It may be related to Scots "jall, joll" ("knock, bump; toll a bell"), from the idea of knocking one thing against another, and has been compared to Old Norse "jaga" ("move to and fro").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/jaw (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).