Where does “jawline” come from?
Jawline derives from English jaw combined with English line, which comes from Old English līn meaning flax or linen, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līno-.
jawline (English): The lower edge of the side of the face (below the cheek), defined by the jawbone
Definitions
- The lower edge of the side of the face (below the cheek), defined by the jawbone
Ancestry of “jawline”, step by step
jawline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English line
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | line | A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight |
| 2 | Middle English | line | rope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,... |
| 3 | Old English | līne | line, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *līnā | line, chord, rope, string |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | līnǭ | that which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | līną | flax |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | līno- | flax |