Mandible
/ˈmæn.dɪ.bəl/noun
The lower jaw or a jaw-like mouthpart in an animal or insect.
Did you know?Mandible comes from Latin *mandibula*, a jaw or jawbone, from *mandere* meaning “to chew,” the same ancient root behind several English words tied to grinding, crushing, and consumption.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mendh-
“to chew, bite”
Latin
Latin
mandere
“to chew, gnaw”
Late Latin
Latin
mandibula
“jaw, jawbone”
Old French
Old French
mandibule
“jawbone”
14th Century
English
mandible
“the jaw or jawbone”
Modern English
English
mandible
“the lower jaw or a jaw-like mouthpart”
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