Definition of
Jowl
- (noun, body) the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
- (noun, body) a fullness and looseness of the flesh of the lower cheek and jaw (characteristic of aging)
via WordNet, Princeton University
Synonyms of Jowl
jawbone, lower jaw, lower jawbone, mandible, mandibula, mandibular bone, submaxilla
Alternate forms of Jowl
Derivations: jowly
Hyponyms: lantern jaw
Hypernyms: articulator, feature, jaw, lineament
Origin of the word Jowl
- 1577, from M.E. cholle "fold of flesh hanging from the jaw" (c.1320), perhaps related to O.E. ceole "throat" (cognate of O.Ir. gop, Ir. gob "beak, mouth"). A slightly different jowl, meaning "jaw," evolved from O.E. ceafl, from P.Gmc. *kaflaz (cf. Ger. kiefer, O.N. kjaptr "jaw," Flem. kavel, Du. kevel … more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper