Definition of "jaw"

jaw¹

/d͡ʒɔː/

noun
plural jaws
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. (figuratively) Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; especially plural, 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. (nautical) The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
8. (slang, dated) Impudent, abusive or worthless talk.
  Quotations
  Give me the boy, now, and no more of your jaw. I am going to take the boy home with me.
  1869, Henry Kingsley, Silcote of Silcotes
  "A lot you care," said Digory fiercely. "But I'm sick of this jaw. What have I got to do?"
  1955, C[live] S[taples] Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew, London: The Bodley Head
9. (slang) Axle guard.
10. (snooker) The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.
verb
third-person singular simple present jaws, present participle jawing, simple past and past participle jawed
1. (transitive) To assail or abuse by scolding.
  Quotations
  He built the Summit, so as to have no neighbours. And Lady Warren couldn't abide It. She was always jawing him about it, and they had one awful quarrel, in his study.
  1933, Ethel Lina White, The Spiral Staircase (Some Must Watch), Chapter 4
2. (intransitive) To scold; to clamor.
  Quotations
  […] he waked him, which put him in a main high passion, and he swore woundily at the lieutenant, and called him lousy Scotch son of a whore […] , and swab, and lubber, whereby the lieutenant returned the salute, and they jawed together fore and aft a good spell, till at last the captain turned out, and, laying hold of a rattan, came athwart Mr. Bowling's quarter: whereby he told the captain that, if he was not his commander, he would heave him overboard […]
  1748, Tobias Smollett, chapter 24, in The Adventures of Roderick Random‎
3. (intransitive, informal) To talk; to converse.
  Quotations
  Today the beastly boat is level at last and the sun’s out and we have all been jawing about what to do.
  1952, C. S. Lewis, chapter 5, in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Collins, published 1998
4. (snooker, transitive, intransitive) (of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.

jaw²

adjective
not comparable
1. (used in certain set phrases like jaw harp, jaw harpist and jaw's-trump)

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