English word origin

Etymology of chuck

Variant of chock.

7 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 7 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

verb

To place in a chuck, or hold by means of a chuck, as in turning. · To bore or turn (a hole) in a revolving piece held in a chuck.

noun

Meat from the shoulder of a cow or other animal. · Food. · A mechanical device that holds an object firmly in place, for example holding a drill bit in a high-speed rotating drill or grinder.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Variant of chock.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

noun

A chicken, a hen. · A clucking sound. · A friend or close acquaintance; term of endearment.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English chuk, of onomatopoeic origin, imitative of a hen's cluck.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionchukenm

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

verb

To make a clucking sound. · To call, as a hen her chickens. · To chuckle; to laugh.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English chukken, from the noun (see above).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionchukkenenm

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗

verb

To playfully give a light touch, stroke, tap, etc., to someone, especially under the chin. · To throw, especially in a careless or inaccurate manner. · To throw; to bowl with an incorrect action. · To discard, to throw away.

noun

A gentle touch or tap. · A casual throw. · A throw, an incorrect bowling action. · An act or instance of vomiting.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From earlier chock, likely imitative, but perhaps also from Middle English chokken (“to thrust, pierce, cram”), from Picard Old French chuquier (“to collide, strike”, intransitive verb), from Middle Dutch schocken (“to bump, shake”). Doublet of shock and shuck.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionchokkenenm · to thrust, pierce, cram
Derivation mentionschockendum · to bump, shake
Doublet mentionshocken
Doublet mentionshucken

This page abbreviates 6 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗

noun

Abbreviation of woodchuck.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From woodchuck.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 6

Original entry ↗

noun

A small pebble. · Money.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From chuck (“to toss”).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 7

Original entry ↗

noun

A pair of nunchaku, especially when using two.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Clipping of nunchuck, variant of nunchaku.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

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Contribute located evidence for chuck →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-Y2h1Y2s