Gapes; The Gapes

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc. GAPES; THE GAPES The gapes.

2. A fit of yawning.

3. A disease of young poultry and other birds, attended with much gaping. It is caused by a parasitic nematode worm (Syngamus trachealis), in the windpipe, which obstructs the breathing. See Gapeworm.