# What's a "Lantern Jaw"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 13, 2002, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440 "2002-12-13T04:56:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440/1 "2002-12-13T04:56:36Z")

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I never heard this term until recently. But, when you think about it, what does it mean? I never saw a lantern with a jaw! Does someone’s face look like a boxy lantern or wall sconce, perhaps? (Do they tarnish?)

But seriously, I WAG this term is synonomous with “having a cleft chin”? Is that basically it? What public figure, or Star, would be such an example? My image is someone like “Gaston” in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”, no? - Jinx

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440/2 "2002-12-13T05:00:47Z")

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It is just a term for a prominent, jutting jaw. Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame epitomizes having a lantern jaw, to me.

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**Author:** ![Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Barber_s_Underwear)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440/3 "2002-12-13T05:12:20Z")

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Think Roger Ramjet.

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440/4 "2002-12-13T05:19:56Z")

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Jay Leno is a prime example.

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**Author:** ![LadyMack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@LadyMack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyMack)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-lantern-jaw/142440/5 "2002-12-13T05:33:58Z")

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Lyle Lovett.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition.

**Lantern Jaw**

NOUN:

1. A lower jaw that protrudes beyond the upper jaw. 2. A long, thin jaw that gives the face a gaunt appearance.