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definitions

champ

1
[champ, chomp]
verb (used with object)
  1. to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently: The horses champed the oats.
  2. to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch.
  3. to mash; crush.
verb (used without object)
  1. to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth.
noun
  1. the act of champing.
Idioms
  1. champ at the bit, to betray impatience, as to begin some action.
Also chomp.

Origin of champ

1
1520–30; perhaps akin to chap1; see chop1
Related formschamp·er, nounchamp·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for champing

chomp, gnaw, gnash, bite, munch, grind, masticate, chump, manducate

Examples from the Web for champing

Contemporary Examples of champing

Historical Examples of champing

  • And through it all the scuttling of rushing hoofs and champing bits.

  • Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing lotus and wild celery.

  • Save the champing of bits by the horses, there was not a sound.

    Gil the Gunner

    George Manville Fenn

  • Then a rest followed, with the usual sneezing and bit- champing.

    Roughing It

    Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

  • At the bottom they hesitated; then the mother with rush and champing Whoof!

British Dictionary definitions for champing

champ

1
verb
  1. to munch (food) noisily like a horse
  2. (when intr, often foll by on, at, etc) to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw
  3. champ at the bit or chafe at the bit informal to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc
noun
  1. the act or noise of champing
  2. Ulster dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks
Derived Formschamper, noun

Word Origin for champ

C16: probably of imitative origin

champ

2
noun
  1. informal short for champion (def. 1)
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 champing

champ

n.

1868, American English abbreviation of champion (n.).

champ

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with champing

champ

In addition to the idiom beginning with champ

  • champ at the bit

also see:

  • like a champ
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.