Maw
/mɔː/noun
The mouth, throat, or gullet of an animal, especially one that seems large or threatening.
Did you know?In Old English, related forms were used for the stomach or gullet of an animal, and the word’s history reflects a very physical, almost predatory idea of eating and being consumed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh₂-
“to chew, crush, or grind”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*munþaz
“mouth”
Old English
OE
mūþ
“mouth”
Middle English
ME
mawe
“stomach, maw, gullet”
Modern English
English
maw
“the throat, gullet, or stomach of an animal”