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old chum

British  

noun

  1. a person who is experienced, esp in life in colonial Australia

  2. an experienced convict

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In 551-words, major shareholder Desmond eviscerated his old chum.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2025

Vagabond Harry pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon, who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2021

He introduced his bill in the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, where an influential member was Delaware Senator Tom Carper - Bullock’s old chum and former boss.

From Reuters ● Aug. 24, 2016

And Steven, the most melodramatic of a melodramatic lot, finds himself asking his old, old chum Matt, in capital letters, “WHO ARE YOU?”

From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2015

Leonard Dagle was Jack’s old chum; friends he had in plenty—dangerous friends many of them—but Leonard was his brother and companion in arms.

From Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir by Charles Garvice

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