Where does “loosejaw” come from?

loosejaw (English) comes from English loose, from English lose, from German Nikolaus, from Latin Nīcolāus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος, from Ancient Greek λᾱός, from Proto-Hellenic lāwós, from Proto-Indo-European leh₂wos — to bark, howl; to be concealed.

loosejaw (English): A fish whose jaw can unhinge to swallow large...

Definitions

  1. A fish whose jaw can unhinge to swallow large...

Ancestry of “loosejaw”, step by step

loosejaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English loose

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlooseTo let loose, to free from restraints; To...
2EnglishloseTo cause to cease to be in one's possession or...
3GermanNikolausa representation of St. Nicholas; the day of 6th...
4LatinNīcolāus
5Ancient GreekΝικόλαοςNicolas
6Ancient Greekλᾱόςpeople; men; the people
7Proto-Helleniclāwóspeople, crowd
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂wospeople
9Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂-to bark, howl; to be concealed

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 leh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₂wosEvery word from Proto-Hellenic lāwós