gape \gape\, n.
   1. the act of gaping; a yawn. --addison.
      1913 webster

   2. zool. the width of the mouth when opened, as of birds,
      fishes, etc.
      1913 webster

   the gapes.
      a a fit of yawning.
      b 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.
          1913 webster
see also:
the gapes syngamus trachealis gapeworm