jaws of life

Etymology
By analogy with an actual jaw and the fact that this mechanical device allows the possibility of preserving the life of the victim being rescued.

Noun



 * 1)  Emergency rescue equipment used to open a severely damaged passenger vehicle with a strong mechanical jaw function that forcibly pushes or pulls metal components apart, to quickly and somewhat safely extricate the trapped occupants.
 * 2) * 2005, Mary Gordon, Pearl
 * Isn't there some machine used in car wrecks to extricate people called the jaws of life?
 * 1) * 2005, Chuck McCann, Short, Shorter and Shorter Stories, Volume 1, page 388
 * The power of the “jaws of life” were shown first and set aside.
 * 1) * 2009, Tony Evans, Tony Evan's Book of Illustrations
 * Even when drivers have had wrecks through no one's fault but their own, rescue crews still employ the "jaws of life" to get them out of trouble.
 * For the most terrible of car accidents, jaws of life have to be used to extricate the injured.

Translations

 * Polish: szczęki życia
 * Spanish: mandíbulas de la vida, quijadas de la vida