[man.di.ble] n [MF, fr. LL mandibula, fr. L mandere to chew; prob. akin to Gk masasthai to chew] (15c) 1 a: jaw 1a; esp: a lower jaw consisting of a single bone or of completely fused bones b: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts c: either the upper or lower segment of the bill of a bird
2: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials; esp: either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws -- man.dib.u.lar adj -- man.dib.u.late adj