Chug

//t͡ʃʌɡ// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A dull, fairly quick explosive or percussive sound, as if made by a labouring engine.
  2. 2
    A dog that is a cross between a pug and a chihuahua.
  3. 3
    the dull explosive noise made by an engine wordnet
  4. 4
    A large gulp of drink.

    "He drank his beer in three chugs."

  5. 5
    A homemade Cuban boat, built to carry emigrants to the USA, and often abandoned upon arrival.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    A person of Native American descent. derogatory, ethnic, slur
  2. 7
    A palm muted note on a distorted electric guitar.
Verb
  1. 1
    To make dull explosive sounds. intransitive
  2. 2
    To solicit charitable donations on the street, particularly in a persistent manner. UK, derogatory, slang, transitive

    "I got chugged in the town centre today."

  3. 3
    make a dull, explosive sound wordnet
  4. 4
    To move or travel whilst making such sounds. intransitive

    "We were chugging along a back road when the engine cut out."

  5. 5
    To move or travel at a steady, although not especially fast, pace. broadly, intransitive

    "Outside, beyond the sun-baked station yard, a rice mill chugged away in the distance, and sweating coolies unloaded bags of rice from creaking bullock carts."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    To drink a large amount (especially of beer) in a single action/without breathing; to chugalug. Usually chanted at the person who is drinking. colloquial, transitive

    "Chug! Chug! Chug!"

  2. 7
    To function or perform with difficulty, typically due to inadequate resources or performance limitations. intransitive

    "My game chugs every time too many NPCs are onscreen."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeic, in imitation of a working steam engine. The racial slur sense derives from the stereotype of Native Americans chugging alcohol.

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic, in imitation of a working steam engine. The racial slur sense derives from the stereotype of Native Americans chugging alcohol.

Etymology 3

Blend of chihuahua + pug.

Etymology 4

Blend of charity + mug (“to violently rob on the street”).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: chug