maw

¹ American  

[maw] / mɔ /

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.

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maw ² American  

[maw] / mɔ /

noun

Informal.

1. mother.

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maw British  

/ 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

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Etymology

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

Explanation

If you're staring into the maw of a wild animal you should probably think about running away as fast as you can. A maw, you see, is an informal term for a mouth. There's something ravenous as well as ferocious about the term maw, and in fact it comes from the Old English word maga meaning "stomach." Occasionally you may find it applied to human rather than animal usage, especially when implying comical greed, as in "he was stuffing cupcakes down his maw as fast as he could." Other colloquial terms for mouth, such as piehole, gob and trap tend to suggest a tone more amused than fearful.

Example Sentences

Rich Maw, an independent member of North Yorkshire Council and Scarborough Town Council, said he believed it had been "done too hastily", calling it "a sledgehammer to crack a nut".

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Emily Maw, an attorney with Williams’ office, outlined the problems in the case in court, noting there were reasons to believe the victim, the only witness, had mistakenly identified Walter.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2022

The novel, which received a National Book Award, was made into a 1982 film starring Meryl Streep and a 2002 opera by British composer Nicholas Maw.

From Washington Post • Aug. 14, 2022

"Now people have realized that we must walk till the end regardless of international assistance or not," NUG deputy minister Maw Htun Aung said in a text message.

From Reuters • Sep. 17, 2021

Incredibly, somehow, they were taking their leave, Aunt Mollie kissing Maw good-by, with the usual remark about “hopin’ the things would help some,” and about being “glad to spare somethin’ from my great plenty.”

From Short Stories of the New America Interpreting the America of this age to high school boys and girls by Various