Yawn
/jɔːn/noun
To open the mouth wide and inhale deeply, usually from tiredness or boredom.
Did you know?The word’s deep origin is uncertain, but it is widely linked to an old Germanic base meaning “to gape” or “open wide,” which is why it feels like your face is briefly surrendering control.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵeh₂-
“to gape, yawn, or open the mouth”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gānaną
“to yawn, gape”
Old English
OE
gānian
“to yawn, gape open”
Middle English
ME
yanen / yānen
“to yawn”
Modern English
English
yawn
“to open the mouth wide involuntarily, especially from fatigue or boredom”