Chaw

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔː

Origin

See chew.

Full definition of chaw

Noun

1. (informal, uncountable) Chewing tobacco.When the doctor told him to quit smoking, Harvey switched to chaw, but then developed cancer of the mouth.
2. (countable) A plug or wad of chewing tobacco.My uncle's way to convince us not to use tobacco was to give us each a big chaw, and then get us to swallow it.
• 1889, Mark Twain, , Chapter XXI,"YOU give him a chaw, did you? So did your sister's cat's grandmother. You pay me back the chaws you've awready borry'd off'n me, Lafe Buckner, then I'll loan you one or two ton of it, and won't charge you no back intrust, nuther."
3. (obsolete) The jaw.

Verb

1. (archaic or nonstandard) To chew; to grind with one's teeth; to masticate (food, or the cud); to champ (at the bit).
• SurreyThe trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped,
  Chawing the foamy bit, there fiercely stood.
• 1884, Mark Twain, , Chapter XXIX,... the king he set down and twisted his head to one side, and chawed his tongue, and scrawled off something ...
2. To ruminate in thought; to consider; to keep the mind working upon; to brood over.
3. (UK, slang) To steal.Some pikey's chawed my bike.