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jaw

Pronunciation: /d͡ʒɔː/

The English word “jaw” has 18 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
  2. The part of the face below the mouth.
  3. Anything resembling the jaw (sense 1) of an animal in form or action; the mouth or way of entrance.
  4. A notch or opening.
  5. A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.
  6. One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.
  7. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
  8. Impudent, abusive, or worthless talk.
  9. An axle guard.
  10. The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.
  11. A wave, a billow, a breaker.
  12. A dash or spurt of water; any large quantity of water or other liquid.

verb

  1. To assail or abuse by scolding.
  2. To scold; to clamor.
  3. To talk; to converse.
  4. (of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.
  5. To pour or throw out.
  6. To splash; to surge.

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.