Where does “crackjaw” come from?

crackjaw (English) comes from English crack, from Middle English crak, from Old Norse kráka, from Proto-Germanic *krakǭ, from Proto-Germanic krakōną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

crackjaw (English): Difficult or unpleasant to pronounce

Definitions

  1. Difficult or unpleasant to pronounce

Ancestry of “crackjaw”, step by step

crackjaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English crack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrackTo form cracks; To break apart under pressure; To...
2Middle Englishcrakloud conversation, bragging talk
3Old Norsekrákacrow
4Proto-Germanic*krakǭ—
5Proto-Germanickrakōnąto crack; crackle; shriek
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

via English Jaw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishJawOne of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth
2Middle Englishjowejaw, jawbone
3Old Frenchjoecheek
4Vulgar Latin*ga(v)ota—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic krakōną →Every word from Proto-Germanic *krakǭ →