jaw

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The lower part of the face that holds the teeth and moves when you talk or eat.

   His jaw dropped in amazement.

2. 2
   noun

   One of a pair of parts on a tool or machine that grip or crush things.

   The jaws of the vise held the wood firmly.

3. 3
   verb

   To talk for a long time, especially in a casual way.

   They sat jawing about old times for hours.

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…

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