chum1
n.
a close friend.
v.
(chums, chumming, chummed)
-
(chum up)
form a friendship with someone.
- Scottish accompany (someone) somewhere.
Derivative
- chummily adv.
- chumminess n.
- chummy adj.
Etymology
C17: prob. short for chamber-fellow; cf. comrade and crony.
chum2
n.
chopped fish and other material used as bait.
▸the remains of fish, especially after oil has been expressed.
v.
(chums, chumming, chummed)
fish using chum as bait.
Etymology
C19: of unknown origin.
chum3
n.
(pl. same or chums)
a large North Pacific salmon that is commercially important as a food fish.
[
Oncorhynchus keta.]
Etymology
early 20th cent.: from Chinook Jargon tzum (samun), lit. ‘spotted (salmon)’.