A person who loves to eat and is always eager for food; a food enthusiast or someone who eats a lot.
From chow (food, from Chinese pidgin English) plus hound (dog), combining them into a compound word. The metaphor compares an enthusiastic eater to a dog eagerly pursuing food.
Chowhound brilliantly captures the paradox of being passionate about food—it's both affectionate and slightly insulting, comparing your enthusiasm to a dog's hunger, yet somehow everyone wants to be called a chowhound!
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