Quite often in literature and various life situations one can come across the word "grin", both in relation to animals and people. Words with the same root and similar in context include the form of the verb "grind", which means the action that leads to the appearance of this expression on the face of the person or face of the animal, as well as other parts of speech, for example, adjectives, participles ("bared", "grinning" ") etc.
What is a grin?
Grin (emphasis on the second vowel) -a, m, masculine. A row of teeth, open with extended lips, blackened jaws. Animal grin (also figurative meaning o expression of extreme malice). The predatory grin. To grin literally is to open your mouth when laughing.
Imagine a defensive or attacking animal that shows its teeth with its lips raised. This is the grin. Perhaps this action will be accompanied by a growl. It can be the beginning of an attack or an expression of an active defense position, but an adult self-confident predator will not necessarily warn and tune. He can attack without grinning.
In relation to people, they use the word when a grin that opens its teeth betrays a clearly unkind attitude.
Why is it called that?
The etymology of the word refers to such objects of inanimate nature, such as "gap, crevice."
It is formed from the verb "grin" (emphasis on the first syllable). It, in turn, is from the noun "rock".
… this verb reflects the mouth pattern of a malevolently smiling person.
Impressive wildlife example
Having found out what a predator's grin is, one should separately dwell on a vivid example. An animal that everyone knows. This is a wolf. The grin of the animal is very clear.
Manifesting aggression and growling, the wolf usually very strongly exposes the upper jaw. It seems that all the skin with the hair has completely shifted back, leaving only the mouth itself with teeth. Unlike its domesticated relatives - dogs, the wolf often licks during a growl. This is probably due to a change in the intensity of salivation in this state.
The tail may have a different position. On it you can determine the status of the animal, claims, the degree of self-confidence. It can be lowered, extended, continuing the line of the back, or raised.
On the Web for some time, photos of two grinning wolves, obviously males, and a female pressed against the neck of one of them, were actively discussed.
The explanation for what was happening was given by the following: the she-wolf, pretending to seek protection, actually covers the male's throat.
However, experienced zoopsychologists give a different explanation for this behavior: having a higher status, the pair suppresses the lowest in rank. This is evidenced by the position of the ears and the peculiarity of the grin of each individual. The she-wolf confirms that they are a couple, and in the event of a fight they will be two against one, which makes the third's chances of victory null and void.
Wolves for no reason do not enter into an open confrontation inside the pack, and indeed do it infrequently. Typically, a clarification of the situation is limited to such a "dialogue".
