Chawed

/tʃɔːd/ verb

Definition

Past tense of 'chaw'; to have bitten, chewed, or crushed something with the teeth.

Etymology

From Old English 'ceaw' (to chew), related to German 'kauen'. The past tense 'chawed' represents a regular English verb formation that has been used since medieval times.

Kelly Says

Chawing tobacco created an entire subculture in 19th-century America, with special spittoons becoming furniture staples—the word 'chawed' captures a now-vanished habit that shaped design and etiquette.

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