chug1
[chuhg]
- a short, dull, explosive sound: the steady chug of an engine.
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- to make this sound: The motor chugged.
- to move while making this sound: The train chugged along.
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Origin of chug1
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; imitative
chug2
[chuhg]Slang.
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- to drink something in large gulps: to chug on a bottle of beer.
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- a large gulp or swallow: He finished his beer in two chugs.
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Origin of chug2
imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chugging
Contemporary Examples
Look, no one has to be chugging Bacardi 151 to prove a point at 40.
Mail often took weeks to get from one coast to the other, chugging along on rail lines.
She wore an apple-green housedress and her graying beehive hairdo was unyielding against the blasts of a chugging air conditioner.
As we speak, container ships full of toys, electronics, and clothing are chugging their way across the Pacific Ocean.
They stopped by The Daily Beast HQ to play some beer pong—and challenged Kevin Fallon to a chugging contest.
Historical Examples
Still the only reply to his monologue was the chugging of the engine.
Steve and the Steam EngineSara Ware Bassett
The last of the motors were chugging up the driveway as he left.
Spring StreetJames H. Richardson
This he could hear not far away, chugging slowly on in front of him.
The Pit Prop SyndicateFreeman Wills Crofts
A little later they were chugging away in the speedy Pickerel.
The Motor Girls on Crystal BayMargaret Penrose
What he heard was the far off chugging of an automobile engine.
The Rest Hollow MysteryRebecca N. Porter
chug
- a short dull sound, esp one that is rapidly repeated, such as that made by an engine
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- (intr) (of an engine, etc) to operate while making such sounds
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Word Origin
C19: 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 chugging
chug
n.
1866, echoic of a working steam engine. As a verb, from 1884. Related: Chugged; chugging. Drinking sense attested by 1940s (chug-a-lug), probably imitative of the sound of swallowing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper