Chaw - Etymology, Origin & Meaning (original) (raw)

"masticate, bite and grind with the teeth," Middle English cheuen, from Old English ceowan, from West Germanic *keuwwan. This is perhaps from PIE *gyeu- "to chew" (source also of Old Church Slavonic živo "to chew," Lithuanian žiaunos "jaws," Persian javidan "to chew"). Germanic cognates include Middle Low German keuwen, Dutch kauwen, Old High German kiuwan, German kauen.

The figurative sense of "to think over" is from late 14c.; to chew the rag "discuss some matter" is from 1885, apparently originally British army slang. To chew (someone) out (1948) probably is military slang from World War II. Related: Chewed; chewing. Chewing-gum is by 1843, American English, originally hardened secretions of the spruce tree.