jowl

¹ American  

[jaul, johl] / dʒaʊl, dʒoʊl /

noun

1. a jaw, especially the lower jaw.

2. the cheek.

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jowl ² American  

[jaul, johl] / dʒaʊl, dʒoʊl /

Also jole

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.

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jowl ¹ British  

/ dʒaʊl /

noun

1. the jaw, esp the lower one

2. (often plural) a cheek, esp a prominent one

3. See cheek

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jowl ² British  

/ 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

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jowl Idioms  

1. see cheek by jowl.

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Other Word Forms

• jowled
  adjective

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Etymology

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”

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Explanation

Jowls are excess flesh around the jaw and cheeks that tends to grow as people get older. The jowl is also the lower jaw, which is hinged so the mouth can open, in vertebrates. The two meanings of jowl both relate to the jaw. In some cases, jowl literally means jaw, as in the hinged lower jaw of vertebrates. Without a jowl, you wouldn't be able to open your mouth. The jowl can also be called the jawbone, lower jawbone, mandible, or submaxilla. The other kind of jowl — usually called jowls — are loose, fleshy areas around the jaw and lower cheeks. Older people are more likely to have jowls, especially if they are overweight.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jowl

I carefully removed the hook from the fish’s jowl and gently let it slip back through my fingers out into the river.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

Staff and residents sat cheek by jowl chatting to each other.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025

Ruoff’s team has already used it to make diamond films composed of thousands of tiny crystals packed cheek by jowl.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 24, 2024

For newcomers, signature dishes include beef brisket and boneless short ribs; for those more adventurous, order the beef tongue and pork jowl.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2022

He looked down at me, panting, his face foolish, the saliva dripping from his tongue and his heavy jowl.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

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