Definition of JAW

jaw

Plural: jaws

Noun

  • the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
  • the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
  • holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
  • One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
  • The part of the face below the mouth.
  • Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; the mouth or way of entrance.
  • A notch or opening.
  • A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.
  • One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.
  • The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
  • Impudent, abusive, or worthless talk.
  • An axle guard.
  • The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.

Verb

Verb Forms: jawed, jawing, jaws

  • To talk at length, especially in a complaining or tedious way.
  • talk socially without exchanging too much information
  • talk incessantly and tiresomely
  • chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
    • "He jawed his bubble gum"
  • censure severely or angrily
  • To assail or abuse by scolding.
  • To scold; to clamor.
  • To talk; to converse.
  • (of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.
  • To pour; throw out; splash.

Adj

  • used in certain set phrases like jaw harp, jaw harpist and jaw's-trump.

Examples

  • His jaw dropped in amazement.
  • Some players like to JAW about their bad luck, distracting from the Words With Friends game itself.
  • the jaw of a railway-car pedestal.
  • the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
  • the jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.

Origin / 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).

Synonyms

bawl out, berate, call down, call on the carpet, chaffer, chat, chatter, chew, chew out, chew the fat, chew up, chide, chit-chat, chitchat, claver, confab, confabulate, dress down, gossip, have words, lambast, lambaste, lecture, manducate, masticate, natter, rag, rattle on, rebuke, remonstrate, reprimand, reproof, scold, shoot the breeze, take to task, trounce, visit, yack, yack away, yap away

Scrabble Score: 13

jaw: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
jaw: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
jaw: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

jaw: valid Words With Friends Word