lantern jaw
LowLiterary/Descriptive
Definition
Meaning
A long, thin, protruding lower jaw and chin.
A facial structure characterized by a mandible that is long and narrow, often with hollow or sunken cheeks, creating a gaunt or angular appearance. Sometimes used to describe a person with such facial features.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term evokes the shape of an old-fashioned lantern, which was often tall, thin, and angular. It typically carries negative aesthetic connotations, suggesting gauntness or a lack of flesh. It is usually a noun, but can be used attributively in 'lantern-jawed'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference. Both use the term in the same descriptive manner.
Connotations
Connotes gauntness, severity, or old-fashioned ruggedness. Not a complimentary term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, found more in literary or descriptive contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He has a lantern jaw.His lantern jaw was unmistakable.She described him as lantern-jawed.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lantern-jawed”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Possible in descriptive anthropology, art history, or literature studies.
Everyday
Rare; used for vivid description, often humorously or critically.
Technical
Medical/dental field would use 'prognathism' or 'mandibular prognathism'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The detective was a tall, lantern-jawed fellow.
American English
- He had a lantern-jawed look that seemed stern.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The picture showed a man with a long face.
- The old sailor had a thin face and a lantern jaw.
- His most distinctive feature was his lantern jaw, which gave him a rather severe appearance.
- The novelist described the villain as gaunt and lantern-jawed, his face all harsh angles and shadows.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tall, thin, old metal lantern. Now picture that shape as someone's lower face—long, angular, and hollow like the lantern's panels.
Conceptual Metaphor
FACE IS AN OBJECT (A LANTERN); GAUNTNESS IS ANGULARITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translations like "фонарь челюсть". The closest equivalent is descriptive: "длинная выступающая нижняя челюсть", "угловатые челюсти", or the established calque "фонарная челюсть" (though rare).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a strong, attractive jawline (it implies gauntness).
- Confusing it with a wide jaw.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He lantern-jaws').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'lantern jaw' primarily describe?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally not a compliment. It describes a gaunt, angular facial structure often associated with severity or ruggedness rather than conventional attractiveness.
While less common, it can be used to describe a woman's facial structure. However, due to its connotations of gauntness, it may be perceived as particularly harsh or critical.
A 'strong jawline' suggests definition and power, often viewed positively. A 'lantern jaw' specifically suggests length, thinness, protrusion, and often accompanying hollow cheeks, with a more negative or severe connotation.
The adjective form is 'lantern-jawed', as in 'a lantern-jawed character'.