Cheek (chēk), n. [OE.
cheke, cheoke, AS. ceàce,
ceòce; cf. Goth. kukjan to kiss, D.
kaak cheek; perh. akin to E. chew, jaw.]
1. The side of the face below the
eye.
2. The cheek bone. [Obs.]
Caucer.
3. pl. (Mech.) Those pieces
of a machine, or of any timber, or stone work, which form
corresponding sides, or which are similar and in pair; as, the
cheeks (jaws) of a vise; the cheeks of a gun
carriage, etc.
4. pl. The branches of a bridle
bit. Knight.
5. (Founding) A section of a
flask, so made that it can be moved laterally, to permit the
removal of the pattern from the mold; the middle part of a
flask.
6. Cool confidence; assurance;
impudence. [Slang]
Cheek of beef. See Illust. of
Beef. -- Cheek bone (Anat.)
the bone of the side of the face; esp., the malar bone.
-- Cheek by jowl, side by side; very
intimate. -- Cheek pouch
(Zoöl.), a sacklike dilation of the cheeks of
certain monkeys and rodents, used for holding food. --
Cheeks of a block, the two sides of the
shell of a tackle block. -- Cheeks of a
mast, the projection on each side of a mast, upon
which the trestletrees rest. -- Cheek
tooth (Anat.), a hinder or molar tooth.
-- Butment cheek. See under
Butment.
Cheek (chēk), v. t. To
be impudent or saucy to. [Slang.]
