Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. talk, a conversation, often when seen as pointless; also attrib.

1788		G.A. Stevens Adventures of a Speculist I 79: But what signifies jawing about what has been done?
1837		‘Nights At Sea’ Bentley’s Misc. June 625: Clap a stopper on the lubber’s jawing-gear.
1854		F. Smedley Harry Coverdale’s Courtship 105: Master Arthur didn’t disgrace his profession in the jawing line either.
1865		H. Kingsley Hillyars and Burtons (1870) 134: Drat this jawing in cover, Sir George!
1878		H.B. Stowe Poganuc People 130: I’m tired o’ this ’ere quarrellin’ and jawin’.
1882		‘’Arry on a Jury’ Punch 15 Apr. 177/2: [We] put up with the cramp and short commons, long jawings, and everyone’s cheek.
1893		S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 6: Come how, now [...] an’ stop yer jawin’, er I’ll lam the everlasting head off yehs.
1916		Rising Sun 25 Dec. 8/1: While the jawin’ of the sergeant nearly drives a bloke insane / It’s pick this up, and bury that, and shift yer bloomin’ pins.
1948		(con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 251: Now let’s cut out all this jawing.
1950		J.T. Farrell ‘Milly & the Porker’ Amer. Dream Girl 203: They won’t even let me read my newspaper in peace, with their goddamn jawing and fighting and nagging.
1952		M.F. Caulfield Black City 145: I can’t stand this jawing. I’m going home.
1953		J. Franklyn Cockney 270: There was jawing about it for two hours in the Town Hall.
1965		(con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 19: Quit your Gawddamn jawing and put something to eat on my table!
1983		A-Team Storybook 24: ‘Can you cut the jawin’?’ asked B.A.
1999		Indep. on Sun. Rev. 21 Feb. 6: Some jawing on London.

2. a telling-off, a scolding.

1852		H.B. Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin 6: A little humanity thrown in along goes a heap further than all your jawin’ and crackin’.
1859		Adelaide Obs. (SA) 24 Sept. 2/6: For a scolding he always comes in far a wigging, / A rowing, a jawing, a lipping, or rigging.
1895		E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 45: I taut Miss Fannie would sure give me a jawin for not tellin her before dinner. But she didn’t.
1901		Boy’s Own Paper 5 Jan. 217: There’s going to be a jawing about something [...] He never looks like that unless some one’s going to catch it hot.
1919		Van Loan ‘Excess Baggage’ Score by Innings (2004) 399: There was jawing in the clubhouse, crabbing on the bench and beefing on the field.
1930		N. Lindsay Redheap (1965) 76: In his diary, Robert described this as ‘a hell of a jawing’ .
1934		Z.N. Hurston Jonah’s Gourd Vine (1995) 109: Shet up! Ahm sick an’ tired uh yo’ yowin’ and jawin’.
1935		Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 94: When Bertha starts her jawin’ Ah can’t stay on de place. Her tongue is hung in de middle and works both ways.
1949–51		in M. Daly Profile of Youth 52: I guess if I cracked up the car and it was my fault, I’d get a big jawing.
1953		J. Franklyn Cockney 270: I ain’t going to ’it ’im, but when I get hold of that boy I’ll give him the biggest jawing of his life, I will.