Definitions
old variant of 齦|龈[yín]
Etymology
About
龂 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 齿 (tooth) carries the meaning, and 斤 suggests the pronunciation. In its traditional form 齗, the radical is the full character 齒, while the phonetic 斤 remains unchanged. Its primary meaning is 'gums', the soft tissue around the base of the teeth. This dental association gives rise to a classical metaphorical sense, to argue or dispute, linking bared gums with verbal confrontation.
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