chug

¹ American  

[chuhg] / tʃʌg /

noun

1. a short, dull, explosive sound.

   the steady chug of an engine.

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verb (used without object)

chugged, chugging

1. to make this sound.

   The motor chugged.

2. to move while making this sound.

   The train chugged along.

chug ² American  

[chuhg] / tʃʌg /

verb (used with or without object)

chugged, chugging

1. Also to swallow (a drink) in large gulps or without interruption.

   He noisily chugged the entire bottle of water, then slammed it onto the table.

   She was just sitting on the bench, chugging away on a bottle of soda.

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noun

1. a large gulp or swallow.

   He finished his beer in two chugs.

chug British  

/ tʃʌɡ /

noun

1. a short dull sound, esp one that is rapidly repeated, such as that made by an engine

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verb

1. (intr) (of an engine, etc) to operate while making such sounds

Other Word Forms

• chugger
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chug¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; imitative

Origin of chug²

First recorded in 1955–60, as chug down; of imitative origin

Example Sentences

“Twenty-four teams, there’s four left. You know what? There’s four left, we’ve got Chug Jugs, we’ve got the golden SCAR. Let’s go! This is no different than a Fortnite battle. Let’s go win this, baby!”

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2021

Chug along the historic “Buckeye Route” on this 1800s-era railroad offering a variety of excursions, from an all-caboose ride to an elegant dinner train.

From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2021

Over time, Weatherall evolved into a global ringleader of a slo-mo dance music we might call the Chug: daring, but a dark art if you can master it.

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2020

Chug your way to wellness with a beet latte and other health elixirs around D.C.

From Washington Post • Dec. 31, 2019

Mr. Jimmy said, “Uh-huh, and on trombone we have Chug ‘Doo-Doo Bug’ Cross, and the palest member of the band, on piano, is Roy ‘Dirty Deed’ Breed.”

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis