chuck

¹

[ chuhk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to toss; throw with a quick motion, usually a short distance:

   Chuck that book to me, will you?

   Synonyms: hurl, heave, pitch, fling

2. Informal. to resign from; relinquish; give up:

   He's chucked his job.

3. to pat, tap, or stroke lightly, as under the chin:

   She chucks her grown son under his chin as if he were still a baby.

4. Informal. to eject (a person) from a public place (often followed by out ):

   They chucked him from the bar.

   I've been chucked out of better places than this!

5. Slang. to vomit; upchuck:

   It's the third time this week the dog's chucked his dinner.

noun

1. a light pat, tap, or stroke, as under the chin:

   Let Grammy give her angel a little chuck.

2. a toss or pitch; a short throw:

   Give it a chuck over here.

3. a sudden jerk or change in direction:

   She gave the toboggan a chuck and we all tumbled off into the snow.

chuck

²

[ chuhk ]

noun

1. the cut of beef between the neck and the shoulder blade:

   Braise the chuck and you'll have a tender, inexpensive piece of meat.

2. a block or log used as a chock:

   Have you got a chuck I can use to keep my wagon from rolling?

3. Machinery.
   1. a device for centering and clamping work in a lathe or other machine tool:

      You can't do the fine lathe work on the spindles without a proper chuck.

   2. a device for holding a drill bit:

      This drill has a keyless chuck, which is great for jobs requiring frequent bit changes.

verb (used with object)

1. Machinery. to hold or secure with a chuck:

   A poorly chucked drill bit is neither efficient nor safe.

chuck

³

[ chuhk ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to cluck:

   The hypnotist made them chuck like chickens!

   A mother hen is chucking her chicks to come to her side.

noun

1. a clucking sound:

   We heard a loud chuck and saw him dashing from the henhouse with our prized layer.

2. Archaic. (used as a term of endearment):

   my love, my chuck.

chuck

⁴

[ chuhk ]

noun

, Western U.S. Slang.

1. food or provisions, as on a cattle ranch or trail:

   By the time we stopped for some chuck, I was too dang tired to eat.

chuck

⁵

[ chuhk ]

noun

, Informal.

1. woodchuck:

   Those blasted chucks have wiped out our entire garden.

chuck

⁶

[ chuhk ]

noun

, Canadian Slang.

1. water:

   Just give me some fresh air and clean chuck.

2. any body of water:

   Lordy, that Lake Nipigon is a beautiful chuck.

Chuck

⁷

[ chuhk ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Charles.
2. Older Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.
   1. a term used to refer to a white person.
   2. white society, culture, and values.

chuck

¹

/ tʃʌk /

noun

1. Also calledchuck steak a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
2. 1. Also calledthree jaw chuck a device that holds a workpiece in a lathe or tool in a drill, having a number of adjustable jaws geared to move in unison to centralize the workpiece or tool
   2. Also calledfour jaw chuckindependent jaw chuck a similar device having independently adjustable jaws for holding an unsymmetrical workpiece

chuck

²

/ tʃʌk /

verb

1. intr a less common word for cluck

noun

1. a clucking sound
2. a term of endearment

chuck

³

/ tʃʌk /

noun

1. a large body of water
2. short for saltchuck

chuck

⁴

/ tʃʌk /

verb

1. informal.
   to throw
2. to pat affectionately, esp under the chin
3. informal.
   sometimes foll byin or up to give up; reject

   she chucked her boyfriend

   he chucked up his job

4. slang.
   intrusually foll byup to vomit
5. chuck off at informal.
   to abuse or make fun of

noun

1. a throw or toss
2. a playful pat under the chin
3. the chuck informal.
   dismissal

Sensitive Note

Chuck in its slang sense was used especially in the 1960s and 1970s by Black people. This use arose by analogy with Mister Charlie, a slang term used in the same sense and also derived from a nickname for Charles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuck¹

First recorded in 1575–85; origin uncertain; possibly from French choquer “to knock, clash;” shock ¹( def )

Origin of chuck²

First recorded in 1665–75; variant of chock; chunk ¹

Origin of chuck³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chuk, expressive word, apparently imitative

Origin of chuck⁴

First recorded in 1840–50; special use of chuck ²

Origin of chuck⁵

By shortening

Origin of chuck⁶

First recorded in 1855–60; from Chinook Jargon, probably from Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) čʾaʔak “water,” reinforced by Lower Chinook ł-čuq “water”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuck¹

C17: variant of chock

Origin of chuck²

C14 chukken to cluck, of imitative origin

Origin of chuck³

C19: from Chinook Jargon, from Nootka chauk

Origin of chuck⁴

C16: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chuck it, British Slang. stop it; shut up:

   Sorry for snapping, but your children don't know when to chuck it!

Example Sentences

It’s a book that transports any reader to that time and place and deposits you in teen Chuck’s world in all its wonders, awkwardness and glory.

From Washington Post

In a now-viral video posted on May 21, 22-year-old designer Cecilia Monge juxtaposed designs she says she shared with Converse in November 2019 with both the Bright Poppy and Red Bark editions of the company’s Chuck 70 National Parks high-tops.

From Time

Chuck introduced me as “The Unknown Comic,” and I came running out with the bag on my head.

From Ozy

Once the pandemic hit, Chuck and his leadership began weekly “check-ins” of 75 minutes to listen to employees and address questions.

From Fortune

In effect, Chuck and his team dared to trust that these clients would make good later on.

From Fortune

Earlier in the segment, host Chuck Todd had asked him if he understood and acknowledged that black people have a fear of police.

From The Daily Beast

From practically the day he took office as the 24th Secretary of Defense less than two years ago, Chuck Hagel was a marked man.

From The Daily Beast

“There was one good thing about it,” Chuck Davis says about his time in captivity.

From The Daily Beast

Former Missouri State Senator Chuck Graham is paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair.

From The Daily Beast

I assume he thinks Chuck Taylors are still as the sneaker of choice and supports the idea of grabbing a quick smoke before tipoff.

From The Daily Beast

Each of them was chuck full of that dubious sort of pride that has busted up more than one love-fiesta.

From Project Gutenberg

He would chuck one under the chin, or feel diffidently the soft little cheek, but a closer familiarity scared him.

From Project Gutenberg

The chuck-chuck-chuck of the gas engine told that Welborn was already on the job at the mine.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he shoved the weapon into Denton's hand, and hurried him over the shingle with the remark, 'Now chuck off the fleece, Peter.

From Project Gutenberg

Dat one ob de beasts what chuck de pusson in de water alive in de sack, sar.

From Project Gutenberg