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. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The cheek bone. [ Obs. ] Caucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. pl. The branches of a bridle bit. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
6. Cool confidence; assurance; impudence. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]
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 (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]