Dentary

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A bone forming the lower jaw in vertebrates, or relating to the lower jaw structure
2. A bone that constitutes the lower jaw in various vertebrates, along with aspects pertaining to the structure of the mandible
3. Pertaining to the bone structure of the lower jaw in vertebrate animals, focusing on its anatomical function and characteristics

Etymology: "Dentary" comes to English from Middle French "dentaire," and its roots lie in the Latin "dens," meaning "tooth." The same root sits behind "dental" and "dentist," so the word is essentially a tooth-word that was pressed into anatomical service. Its adjective sense, relating to the teeth, is the older and more direct use, while the noun sense arrived later as anatomists needed a name for the bone that carries the teeth. That noun sense is the one that makes the word distinctive. In anatomy, the dentary is the large bone forming the front and main part of the lower jaw in many vertebrates, and in mammals it is the only bone of the lower jaw that bears teeth. The name thus points to the function of the bone: it is the "tooth-bearing" element of the jaw, and it is described by what it holds rather than by its shape or position.