To bite or chew noisily, or to chomp, often used to describe how horses bite their bits.
From Middle English 'champen' or 'champe,' possibly onomatopoetic in origin, mimicking the sound of chewing. Related to 'champ' with the same meaning.
When you watch a horse champ at the bit while waiting to race, you're hearing an onomatopoeia—the word 'champe' literally imitates the chomping sound, which is why it feels so vivid!
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