Jawlines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The contour or outline of the lower jaw, especially as it contributes to facial aesthetics
2. The shape formed by the edges of the jawbone, often considered in beauty and attractiveness
3. A defining feature of the face that highlights the separation between the chin and neck region

Etymology: "Jawlines" is the plural of "jawline," a compound formed from "jaw" and "line." The "jaw" part traces back to Old English "ceafl," a word for the lower part of the face that gave rise to the modern term through a long run of changes in form, while "line" comes from Latin "linea," meaning a thread or cord, which passed into English through Old French as a way of describing a drawn or boundary mark. Put together, the compound describes the edge where the lower face meets the neck, pictured as a visible contour rather than a bone. The plural simply counts several such contours, usually across different faces or in descriptions of appearance. Because the jawbone itself is what shapes the line, the word has come to be used mostly in discussions of beauty and attractiveness, where a sharply defined edge is praised.

Synonyms: mandibles, jaws, chinlines, facelines, facial contours