E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Jaw.
Words of complaint; wrangling, abuse, jabber. “To jaw,” to annoy with words, to jabber, wrangle, or abuse. The French gueule and gueuler are used in the same manner.
1
Hold your jaw. Hold your tongue or jabber.
2
What are you jawing about? What are you jabbering or wrangling about?
3
A break-jaw word. A very long word, or one hard to pronounce.
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