Word Direct Answers

What does "jaw" mean?

Jaw: Fig.: Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; esp., pl., the mouth or way of entrance; as, the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Mach.) (a) A notch or opening. (b) A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place; as, the jaw of a railway-car pedestal. See Axle guard. (b) One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them, as, the jaws of a vise, or the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
  2. 3.(Naut.) The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
  3. 4.Impudent or abusive talk. [Slang] H. Kingsley. Jaw bit (Railroad), a bar across the jaws of a pedestal underneath an axle box. -- Jaw breaker, a word difficult to pronounce. [Obs.] -- Jaw rope (Naut.), a rope which holds the jaws of a gaff to the mast. -- Jaw tooth, a molar or grinder; a back tooth.
  4. 5.To scold; to clamor. [Law] Smollett.
  5. 6.To assail or abuse by scolding. [Law]

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