champ¹

[champ, chomp]

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.

noun

the act of champing.

Idioms

champ at the bit, to betray impatience, as to begin some action.

Also chomp.

Origin of champ¹

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

Examples from the Web for champing

Contemporary Examples

There are no emails for us to wade through—even if we were champing at the bits.
The IRS Email Double Standard
Matt Lewis
November 25, 2014
My two sons—Hugo and Thomas, ages ten and thirteen—are champing at the bit.
Peter Godwin on How to Take Your Kids on an African Safari
Condé Nast Traveler
June 4, 2013

Historical Examples

And through it all the scuttling of rushing hoofs and champing bits.
The Twins of Suffering Creek
Ridgwell Cullum
Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing lotus and wild celery.
The Iliad
Homer
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!
Watched by Wild Animals
Enos A. Mills

British Dictionary definitions for champing

champ¹

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

noun

the act or noise of champing
Ulster dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks

Derived Formschamper, noun

Word Origin

C16: probably of imitative origin

champ²

noun

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.

Idioms and Phrases with champing

champ

In addition to the idiom beginning with champ

champ at the bit

also see:

like a champ

champ.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for champing

Contemporary Examples

There are no emails for us to wade through—even if we were champing at the bits.

My two sons—Hugo and Thomas, ages ten and thirteen—are champing at the bit.

Historical Examples

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.

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

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

champ1

Word Origin

champ2

Word Origin and History for champing

champ

n.

champ

v.

Idioms and Phrases with champing

champ

champ¹

Origin of champ¹

champ¹

champ²