chin
UK[tʃɪn]US[tʃɪn]
n
The part of the face below the mouth and above the neck.
Etymology
The word 'chin' originates from the Old English 'cin' or 'cinn', which referred to the jaw or jawbone. This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic 'kinnuz', a common source for related words in other Germanic languages, such as German 'Kinn' and Dutch 'kin'. The root extends further to the Proto-Indo-European 'ǵénus', meaning 'jaw' or 'cheek', which also gave rise to the Latin 'gena' (cheek) and Greek 'genys' (jaw). The semantic focus narrowed in English from the broader jaw area to specifically denote the lower front projection of the jaw.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old English origin.
Examples
He rested his chin thoughtfully on his hand.
The boxer took a hard punch to the chin.
She has a small, pointed chin.