Where does “jaw” come from?
Jaw comes from Middle English jawe and chawe, from Proto-Germanic kawǭ and kewǭ, from Proto-Germanic kewwaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵyewh₁-.
jaw (English): One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which...
Definitions
- One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which...
Ancestry of “jaw”, step by step
jaw traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English jawe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | jawe | — |
| 2 | Middle English | chawe | jaw |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | kawǭ | jaw |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | kewǭ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | kewwaną | to chew |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵyewh₁- | to chew |
via Middle English jowe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | jowe | jaw, jawbone |
| 2 | Old French | joe | cheek |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | *ga(v)ota | — |
via Middle English geowe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | geowe | — |