Main Entry:

man·di·ble

Pronunciation:

\ˈman-də-bəl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Late Latin mandibula, from Latin mandere to chew; probably akin to Greek masasthai to chew

Date:

15th century

1 a: jaw 1a ; especially : a lower jaw consisting of a single bone or of completely fused bones b: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts c: either the upper or lower segment of the bill of a bird2: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials ; especially : either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws

— man·dib·u·lar \man-ˈdi-byə-lər\ adjective

— man·dib·u·late \-lət\ adjective