jowl

¹

[ joul, johl ]

noun

1. a jaw, especially the lower jaw.
2. the cheek.

jowl

²

[ joul, johl ]

noun

1. a fold of flesh hanging from the jaw, as of a very fat person.
2. the meat of the cheek of a hog.
3. the dewlap of cattle.
4. the wattle of fowls.

jowl

¹

/ dʒaʊl /

noun

1. fatty flesh hanging from the lower jaw
2. a similar fleshy part in animals, such as the wattle of a fowl or the dewlap of a bull

jowl

²

/ dʒaʊl /

noun

1. the jaw, esp the lower one
2. often plural a cheek, esp a prominent one
3. cheek by jowl
   See cheek

Derived Forms

• jowled, adjective

Other Words From

• jowled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jowl¹

before 1000; Middle English chawl, chavell, Old English ceafl jaw; cognate with Dutch kevel, German Kiefer, Old Norse kjaptr

Origin of jowl²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English cholle, Old English ceole “throat”; cognate with German Kehle “throat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of jowl¹

Old English ceole throat; compare Old High German kela

Origin of jowl²

Old English ceafl jaw; related to Middle High German kivel, Old Norse kjaptr

Idioms and Phrases

see cheek by jowl .

Example Sentences

Stuff any animal cheek-to-jowl into overly crowded pens and the oceans will fight back with rampant disease.

From Freakonomics

A new dimension of social anxiety opened up last week, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention liberated the smiles, scowls and jowls of Americans with new guidance saying masks aren’t needed for those of us who are fully vaccinated.

From Washington Post

They are places where people sit cheek to jowl, maybe sneezing, maybe coughing, maybe puking.

From The Daily Beast

A lot of us who live in cities…we live cheek to jowl with the dead.

From The Daily Beast

There are the best and the worst—all who can pay the price: the reformers cheek by jowl with the mayor and the Boss, by Jove!

From Project Gutenberg

This would be cheek-by-jowl with a bet that an heir would be born to one new-married pair before another pair.

From Project Gutenberg

The heavy jowl, the staring eye, and the blue-black moustache of the god made up a far-off resemblance to Mulvaney.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'll jowl your head for impudence," said Mrs. Morel, and she tied the strings of the black bonnet valiantly under her chin.

From Project Gutenberg

His agonised eyes, fear-stricken, glinted white in the moonlight, and there was foam on his jowl.

From Project Gutenberg