What is the Latin word for gaping?

The usual Latin words for “gaping” are oscĭtātĭo, oscēdo. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“gaping” in Latin

oscĭtātĭoan opening of the mouth wide oscēdoAn inclination to yawn

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

gaping

oscitatio: oscedo (the habit of gaping or yawning, eo vitio, quod oscedo appellatur, Gell.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for gaping?: The usual Latin words for “gaping” are oscĭtātĭo, oscēdo. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.