EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN | IDIOMS verb (used with object) to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently: The horses champed the oats.
to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch.
to mash; crush.
verb (used without object) to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth.
Idioms champ at the bit , to betray impatience, as to begin some action.
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Origin of champ 1 1520–30; perhaps akin to
chap1 ; see
chop1 Related forms champ·er , noun champ·y , adjective Origin of champ 2 by shortening
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for champ Contemporary Examples of champ The reigning Emmy champ coming off her best season yet on The Good Wife, Margulies could very well set that record, too.
The clock strikes zero, and the champ is still the champ , 61-56.
Champ refers to a field, Bertin was likely the original owner of that field, and the name still holds today.
He assured me that Hillary was a champ when it came to separating her public service from her private practice.
Now shaken from his reverie, stunned, Paterno walked over to the golf cart and crouched and shook the hand of the champ .
Historical Examples of champ Shall we subdue our strength, and champ a bit, and serve his pride?
"Guess we've got to take it on then and 'champ '," murmured Delia.
She was to be seen, in July, 1790, digging the soil of the Champ de Mars.
Pop Monroe was trying for just one solid blow to slow down the Champ .
It was not long after midnight the next day that Champ Lee reached the ranch.
British Dictionary definitions for champ verb to munch (food) noisily like a horse
(when intr, often foll by on, at, etc ) to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw
champ at the bit or chafe at the bit informal to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc
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noun the act or noise of champing
Ulster dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks
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Derived Forms champer , noun Word Origin for champ C16: probably of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for champ n. 1868, American English abbreviation of champion (n.).
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v. "to chew noisily," 1520s, probably echoic; OED suggests a connection with jam (v.). Earlier also cham , chamb , etc. To champ on (or at ) the bit , as an eager horse will, is attested in figurative sense by 1640s. Related: Champed ; champing . As a noun in this sense, attested from c.1600.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with champ In addition to the idiom beginning with champ
also see:
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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