paszcze

Paszcze is the plural form of the Polish noun paszcza, which denotes the mouth or maw of an animal, and by extension the opening or cavity used for feeding and sometimes respiration. The term is commonly used in biological and zoological contexts to describe the mouth as a functional unit, as well as to refer to the mouths of multiple animals or to different mouth structures within a species.

In biology, paszcze can refer to the mouth opening and the associated feeding apparatus. In vertebrates, this includes the mouth itself and related elements involved in capturing, processing, and transporting food, such as lips, teeth, tongue, and the jaw arrangement. The concept helps distinguish between the mouth as an opening and the bones or joints that form the jaws, which are described with terms like szczęka (upper jaw) and żuchwa (lower jaw). In invertebrates, the term may be used more broadly to describe mouthparts or the mouth opening, depending on the group and level of anatomical detail.

Aside from anatomical usage, paszcze also appears in metaphorical or descriptive language. A large, open mouth of an animal or a person can be described as a “paszcza,” often emphasizing size, expression, or threat, as in phrases referring to a predator’s maw or a wide, gape-like opening. The word can thus function in both scientific and literary registers.

Overall, paszcze serves as a general term for mouths or mouth-like openings in animals, with scope that spans anatomical description and figurative language.