See Also: jawbone(dictionary)
jawbone(dictionary)

jawbone (iou)



jawbone noun & verb. L15.
[from JAW noun1 + BONE noun.]
A. noun.
A bone of the jaws; spec. the bone of the lower jaw, the mandible; either (left or right) half of this. L15.
An animal's jawbone used as a musical instrument; also (in pl.), castanets. M19.
= CREDIT noun 6. N. Amer. slang. M19.
b. verb trans. & intrans. Seek to restrain (a trade union or other body in a dispute) by persuasion. Chiefly as jawboning verbal noun US slang. M20.