jowl

UK: /ˈdʒaʊl/ US: /dʒaʊl/ ,( joul, jōl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

jowl² /dʒaʊl/   n. 

[countable* usually plural]
1. a fold of flesh hanging from the jaw:
   His jowls quivered with greed.

jowled, adj: 

a heavily jowled politician.

jowl•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jowl¹  ( joul, jōl), n. 

1. a jaw, esp. the lower jaw.
2. the cheek.

• bef. 1000; Middle English chawl, chavell, Old English ceafl jaw; cognate with Dutch kevel, German Kiefer, Old Norse kjaptr

jowled, adj. 

jowl²  ( joul, jōl), n. 

1. a fold of flesh hanging from the jaw, as of a very fat person.
2. the meat of the cheek of a hog.
3. the dewlap of cattle.
4. the wattle of fowls.

Also, jole. 

• 1275–1325; Middle English cholle, Old English ceole throat; cognate with German Kehle throat

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jowl / dʒaʊl/ noun

1. the jaw, esp the lower one
2. (often plural) a cheek, esp a prominent one
3. cheek by jowl ⇒
   See cheek7

Etymology: Old English ceafl jaw; related to Middle High German kivel, Old Norse kjaptr

jowled adjective

jowl / dʒaʊl/ noun

1. fatty flesh hanging from the lower jaw
2. a similar fleshy part in animals, such as the wattle of a fowl or the dewlap of a bull

Etymology: Old English ceole throat; compare Old High German kela