Something that requires a lot of chewing and doesn't break apart easily in your mouth.
From the verb 'chew' (Old English: ceowan, from Germanic roots meaning to crush or bite) plus the suffix '-y' (making it an adjective). The word developed naturally as people described the texture of foods.
Chewy foods like caramel or taffy actually help your jaw muscles grow stronger—a chewy texture signals to your brain that something might need more work to digest, which is why we find chewy foods so satisfying even if they're harder to eat.
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