maw

¹

[ maw ]

noun

1. the mouth, throat, or gullet of an animal, especially a carnivorous mammal.
2. the crop or craw of a fowl.
3. the stomach, especially that of an animal.
4. a cavernous opening that resembles the open jaws of an animal:

   the gaping maw of hell.

5. the symbolic or theoretical center of a voracious hunger or appetite of any kind:

   the ravenous maw of Death.

maw

²

[ maw ]

noun

, Informal.

1. mother ¹.

maw

/ mɔː /

noun

1. the mouth, throat, crop, or stomach of an animal, esp of a voracious animal
2. informal.
   the mouth or stomach of a greedy person

Word History and Origins

Origin of maw¹

before 900; Middle English mawe, Old English maga; cognate with Dutch maag, German Magen, Old Norse magi

Origin of maw²

Variant of ma

Word History and Origins

Origin of maw¹

Old English maga; related to Middle Dutch maghe, Old Norse magi

Example Sentences

“I’m surprised Mr. Pollono hasn’t already been snapped up by the hungry maw of television,” Isherwood presciently remarked in an aside.

From Los Angeles Times

If this were a graphic novel, all we’d miss is the ghastly effective soundscape of squelches and pops, although that would make it easier to endure a shot of Quaid gnashing shrimp into his maw, or when he strides up to the screen like it’s a urinal and appears to pee in our laps.

From Los Angeles Times

If this much solar mass in a young universe was annually being forever lost into the gaping maw of a black hole, it would be less unusual.

From Salon

Sensing what seemed to be an epic blunder that would take us directly into the maw of vehicular misadventure, we exchanged nervous glances in the back seat and checked our watches.

From Los Angeles Times

But what are some things that you think we will see as having been important in hindsight, that are being overlooked in the moment, with the endless maw of the 24/7 news cycle and all of these surprises?

From Salon