prognathous
Jun. 18th, 2012 07:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordprognathous (prog-NATH-ik) - adj., having a jaw that projects abnormally forward.
In common usage, the lower jaw in particular, but as a technical anatomic term it can be the upper jaw instead or in addition. Coined in 1836 from Greek roots pro-, in the sense of advancing or projecting forward + gnathos, jaw. As an aside, it turns out there's a pro- that comes from Latin and one that comes from Greek, with identical meanings -- so you can pro- roots from either language without getting macaronic.
---L.
In common usage, the lower jaw in particular, but as a technical anatomic term it can be the upper jaw instead or in addition. Coined in 1836 from Greek roots pro-, in the sense of advancing or projecting forward + gnathos, jaw. As an aside, it turns out there's a pro- that comes from Latin and one that comes from Greek, with identical meanings -- so you can pro- roots from either language without getting macaronic.
---L.
