jowly
UK[ˈdʒaʊli]US[ˈdʒaʊli]
adj
having heavy or sagging flesh on the lower cheeks and jaw.
Morpheme Breakdown
jowl
y
jowl
jaw, cheek
y
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word "jowly" is a modern english formation built upon the much older noun "jowl," which traces back to old english ceole, meaning "throat" or "jaw." this germanic root is related to words for throat in other languages, such as german kehl. over time, "jowl" came to refer specifically to the flesh of the lower jaw or cheek. the adjectival suffix "-y," of old english origin, is then appended to create a descriptive term meaning "characterized by prominent or heavy jowls." the evolution is a straightforward compounding within english, moving from a concrete body part to a descriptive physical attribute.
Analysis
Structure: jowl (jaw, cheek) + y (adjective suffix)
- jowl: from old english ceole (throat, jaw), germanic origin. in this word, it provides the core meaning related to the jaw or cheek.
- y: a native english suffix from old english -ig, used to form adjectives meaning "characterized by" or "full of".
Examples
the old bulldog had a characteristically jowly face.
he was a portly, jowly man who spoke with a deep voice.
as he aged, his once lean face became increasingly jowly.