What does "jawbone" mean?
The bone of the lower jaw; the mandible.
Jawbone
noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The bone of the lower jaw; the mandible.
- Grammar: jawbone is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: lower jaw, mandible, advocate, blandish.
- Useful contrasts: deter, discourage, dissuade.
- Usage evidence: After the forest fire ravaged the hillside, Mary killed every predatory beast with the jawbone of an ass and ate the burned remains of every creature until she could not move.
How to use "jawbone"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "jawbone" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "jawbone" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "jawbone" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "jawbone" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "lower jaw" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The bone of the lower jaw; the mandible. countable
"14 ¶ And when he came vnto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily vpon him, and the cordes that were vpon his armes became as flaxe that was burnt with fire, & his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new iawbone of an asse, and put foorth his hand, and tooke it, and slewe a thousand men therewith. 16 And Samson said, With the iawbone of an asse, heapes vpon heapes, with the iaw of an asse haue I slaine a thousand men. 17 And it came to passe when he had made an end of speaking, that hee cast away the iaw bone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-Lehi."
- 2 the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth wordnet
- 3 Any of the bones in the lower or upper jaw. countable
- 4 A shaken musical instrument (an idiophone) made from the jawbone of an animal and shaken such that the teeth vibrate in their sockets to produce sound. countable, plural, singular
- 5 Credit. archaic, slang, uncountable
"We have a few persons whose pockets are to let—men who have more complaints than dollars—individuals who, in digger's parlance, live on jawbone (credit), and are always to be found at saloons; a class of men who, when they are here, wish themselves yonder, and when yonder, wish themselves back."
Verb
- 1 To talk persistently in an attempt to persuade somebody to cooperate. ambitransitive
"“We got a winner. He stole her glasses and she couldn't see. Boring.” (crowd jeering) “Give me my glasses back.” “I'm gonna give your glasses to your master.” “Lot of jawboning going on.” “Okay? Here you go. It was nice meeting you, okay?” “...a little less hot air, but I present to you our new familiar champion, this guy right here. Never caught his name, never caught his name.”"
- 2 talk idly or casually and in a friendly way wordnet
- 3 (especially of regulatory agencies) To try to persuade (someone) through implied threats of punitive action, such as tighter regulatory control. transitive
Antonyms
Example
"After the forest fire ravaged the hillside, Mary killed every predatory beast with the jawbone of an ass and ate the burned remains of every creature until she could not move."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "jawbone"?
Common synonyms include: lower jaw, mandible, advocate, blandish, bone, cajole.
How do you use "jawbone" in a sentence?
After the forest fire ravaged the hillside, Mary killed every predatory beast with the jawbone of an ass and ate the burned remains of every creature until she could not move.
Etymology
From Middle English jawe bone, a partial calque of earlier Middle English chawlbone, chawylbon, chavylbone, chawle boon, chavyl bon (“jaw bone”, literally “chavel bone”), see chavel-bone; equivalent to jaw + bone.