Chins

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /t͡ʃɪnz/

Definitions

1. The plural form of a term for the prominent structure below the mouth, which can refer to features that can vary in size and shape
2. Referring to the lower part of the face, where the jaw meets and extends from the neck, often highlighted in facial expressions
3. Describing multiple instances of the anatomical part that provides the foundation for the lower facial structure in humans and some animals

Etymology: The plural "chins" is simply the form of "chin" used for more than one, so the real story is the noun it comes from. "Chin" descends from Old English "ċinn", which goes back to a Proto-Germanic word "kinnuz" meaning chin, and further to a prehistoric root that also gave Greek "génus" (jaw) and Sanskrit "hánu" (jaw). That shared ancestry explains why the word looks so unlike its Latin neighbours: English "chin" is a doublet of Latin "gena", meaning cheek, so two words from one source ended up as different things in different languages.

Synonyms: jaws, mandibles