jawbreaker

[ jaw-brey-ker ]

noun

1. Informal. a word that is hard to pronounce:

   real jawbreakers like "antidisestablishmentarianism" or "antiangiogenic."

2. a very hard, usually round, candy.
3. Also called jaw crusher. Mining. a machine used to break up ore, consisting of a fixed plate and a hinged jaw moved by a toggle joint.

jawbreaker

/ ˈdʒɔːˌbreɪkə /

noun

1. Also calledjawcrusher a device having hinged jaws for crushing rocks and ores
2. informal.
   a word that is hard to pronounce

Derived Forms

• ˈjawˌbreakingly, adverb
• ˈjawˌbreaking, adjective

Other Words From

• jaw·break·ing adjective
• jaw·break·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jawbreaker¹

First recorded in 1830–40; jaw ¹ + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

His title is a jawbreaker: director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

From The Daily Beast

He had been careful, however, to pick the jawbreaker up and put it in his mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, you see, hes the only fellow in the club who knows how to pronounce the names of those Russian and Polish jawbreaker towns.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sweet