chuck

[chuhk]

verb (used with object)

to toss; throw with a quick motion, usually a short distance.
Informal. to resign from; relinquish; give up: He's chucked his job.
to pat or tap lightly, as under the chin.

Informal. to eject (a person) from a public place (often followed by out): They chucked him from the bar.
Slang. to vomit; upchuck.

noun

a light pat or tap, as under the chin.
a toss or pitch; a short throw.
a sudden jerk or change in direction.

Idioms

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

Origin of chuck

First recorded in 1575–85; origin uncertain

Synonyms for chuck

1. fling, pitch, heave, hurl.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for chuck out

chuck out

verb

(tr, adverb often foll by of) informal to eject forcibly (from); throw out (of)he was chucked out of the lobby

chuck

verb (mainly tr)

informal to throw
to pat affectionately, esp under the chin
(sometimes foll by in or up) informal to give up; rejecthe chucked up his job; she chucked her boyfriend
(intr usually foll by up) slang, mainly US to vomit
chuck off at Australian and NZ informal to abuse or make fun of

noun

a throw or toss
a playful pat under the chin
the chuck informal dismissal

Word Origin for chuck

C16: of unknown origin

chuck

noun

Also called: chuck steak a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
1. Also called: three jaw chucka 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 called: four jaw chuck, independent jaw chucka similar device having independently adjustable jaws for holding an unsymmetrical workpiece

Word Origin for chuck

C17: variant of chock

chuck

verb

(intr) a less common word for cluck (def. 2)

noun

a clucking sound
a term of endearment

Word Origin for chuck

C14 chukken to cluck, of imitative origin

chuck

⁴

noun Canadian West coast

a large body of water
short for saltchuck

Word Origin for chuck

C19: from Chinook Jargon, from Nootka chauk

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 chuck out

chuck

v.1

"to throw," 1590s, variant of chock "give a blow under the chin" (1580s), possibly from French choquer "to shock, strike against," imitative (see shock (n.1)). Related: Chucked; chucking.

chuck

n.1

"piece of wood or meat," 1670s, probably a variant of chock (n.) "block." "Chock and chuck appear to have been originally variants of the same word, which are now somewhat differentiated." Specifically of shoulder meat from early 18c. American English chuck wagon (1880) is from the meat sense.

chuck

n.2

"slight blow under the chin," 1610s, from chuck (v.1). Meaning "a toss, a throw" is from 1862. Related: Chucked; chucking.