Forms: see CHEEK sb. and BONE.
† 1. The bone of the lower jaw, the jaw-bone.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 157. Mandibula, ceacban.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 1073 (Trin.). Wiþ a cheke boon of an asse Men sayn abel slayn wasse.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5650. Al to-dryue Ys chekbon neȝ a-two.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 850. Gamelyn cleued his chike bone.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 72. Chekebone … chavylbone.
1535. Coverdale, Judg. xv. 16. With the cheke bone of an asse haue I slayne a thousande men.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 115. His cheekebones would be even and small.
1611. Bible, Ps. iii. 7. Thou hast smitten all mine enemies vpon the cheeke bone.
2. The bone above the cheek forming the lower boundary of the orbits of the eyes.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xxvi. Little could be seen besides two brown cheek-bones.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 363/2. The Ethiopian variety … cheek-bones prominent.
