Sc. and north. dial. [Goes with JAW v.2, the two appearing together early in 16th c. Origin unknown.]
1. The rush or dash of a wave; a surging or dashing wave, a billow.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. iii. 21. Heich as ane hill the iaw of watter brak. Ibid., VIII. i. 136. I am God Tibris … Quhilk … wyth mony iaup and iaw Bettis thir brayis, schawand the bankis down.
1606. trans. Rollock’s Lect. 2 Thess., 118. The sey when it flowes on a rock, immediatelie the iaw returnes backe againe in the sey.
1768. Ross, Helenore (1866), 231. Sae we had better jook until the jaw Gang o’er our heads.
a. 1800[?]. Sir Patrick Spence, viii. (Child). They had not saild upon the sea A league but merely three, When ugly, ugly were the jaws That rowd unto their knee.
1868. G. Macdonald, R. Falconer, III. 65. Tak guid tent ’at ye ride upo’ the tap o’ ’t, an’ no lat it rise like a muckle jaw ower yer heid; for it’s an awfu’ thing to be droont in riches.
1893. Northumbld. Gloss., Jaa, Jaw.
2. A quantity of water or other liquid dashed, splashed or thrown out; an outpour of water, etc.
a. 1816. Picken, in Whistle-Binkie (1890), I. 149. Wi’ jaws o’ toddy reeking hot Will keep the genial current warm.
1825–80. Jamieson, s.v., The cow has gi’en a gude jaw the day.
1899. Crockett, Kit Kennedy, 57. Giein’ a pot a bit syne [= rinse] wi’ a jaw o’ water.
Hence (or from JAW v.2) Jaw-box, Jaw-tub, Sc., a kitchen sink with sides; also JAW-HOLE.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Jaw tub, Jaw box, a scullery sink.
