jowl

views updated May 21 2018

jowl / joul/ • n. (often jowls) the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, esp. when it is fleshy or drooping: she had a large nose and heavy jowls. ∎  the cheek of a pig used as meat. ∎  the loose fleshy part of the neck of certain animals, such as the dewlap of cattle or the wattle of birds.DERIVATIVES: jowled adj. [in comb.] ruddy-jowled.jowl·y adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

jowl

views updated Jun 11 2018

jowl. Part of a post in timber-framed construction at the top or bottom, wider than the rest of the post on one face, to house tie-beams, wall-plates, etc. Tops of crown-posts are often jowled.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

jowl

views updated May 29 2018

jowl1 jaw, jawbone; as in phr. cheek by jowl, which repl. cheek by cheek. XVI. Later form of chawle, reduction of ME. chauel, OE. ċeafl, corr. to OS. *kaƀal (in d. pl. kaflun), rel. to MHG. kivel, Du. kevel.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

jowl

views updated May 23 2018

jowl2 dewlap, crop, wattle. XVI. Later form of ME. cholle (XIV), OE. ċeole, -u=OS., OHG. kela (G. kehle), throat, gullet.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

jowl

views updated May 23 2018

jowl3 head. XIV (jolrap head-rope). Later form of cholle (XIV), of unkn. orig.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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