[f. JAW sb.1]
† 1. trans. To seize or devour with the jaws; to use the jaws upon. Obs.
1612. Two Noble K., III. ii. I wreake not if the wolues would jaw me, so He had his fill.
2. slang. a. intr. To use the vocal organs; to speak, talk. (A vulgar, contemptuous or hostile equivalent for speak.)
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., xxiv. He swore woundily at the lieutenant … whereby the lieutenant returned the salute, and they jawed together fore and aft a good spell.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), III. 299. Will you stand jawing here?
1801. M. G. Lewis, Tales Wonder, Sailor’s T., iv. In vain I begg’d, and swore, and jaw’d; Nick no excuse would hear.
1885. T. A. Guthrie, Tinted Venus, viii. 98. What’s the good of jawing at him?
b. trans. To address censoriously or abusively; to scold or ‘lecture’ (a person).
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. 262. He was then very abusive and noisy; he kept jawing us.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xi. I have been jawed for letting you go.
1896. Chicago Advance, 30 July, 141/1. In politics we jaw one another partly for the fun of it.
3. To jaw away: to cut to the shape of jaws, or in a concave curve.
1802. Naval Chron., VIII. 470. The top-most part of the cap was cut to fit the rudder, and the after part jawed away, so as to work on the stern-post.
