Prognathism
/ˌprɒɡˈneɪθɪzəm/noun
A condition in which the upper or lower jaw projects forward beyond the usual facial profile.
Did you know?The key root, Greek gnathos, meaning “jaw,” survives in scientific vocabulary such as gnathic and agnathous, revealing how ancient body-part words still shape modern anatomy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
gnáthos
“Jaw; cheek or jawbone”
Ancient Greek
Greek
prognáthos
“Having the jaw projecting forward”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
prognathismus
“Forward projection of the jaw”
19th Century
English
prognathism
“The condition of having a projecting jaw”
Modern English
English
prognathism
“Forward projection of the upper or lower jaw, used especially in anatomy and anthropology”