Jawed

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɔːd/

Definitions

1. A bony framework connected to the skull that supports teeth, assists in eating, and plays a role in producing sounds is known to vary significantly among species
2. This skeletal structure that houses teeth is crucial for the process of mastication, sound production, and articulation in various organisms
3. A skeletal structure attached to the skull, essential for holding teeth, facilitating chewing, and aiding in vocalization across different species is often found in diverse forms

Etymology: "Jawed" is simply "jaw" with the suffix "-ed" attached, the same ending that turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having" the thing named, as in "bearded" or "hooded." The "-ed" ending traces back through Old English "-ed" and Middle English "-ed," and before that to Proto-Germanic "-ōdaz," which carried this same sense of possessing a feature. The base word "jaw" comes from Middle English "jowe" and Old French "joue" ("cheek"), so "jawed" describes a creature that has a particular kind of jaw. In practice it is used mostly in compounds such as "square-jawed" or "strong-jawed," describing a person's chin and jaw line.

Synonyms: talked, chatted, gossiped