Part 236

chthonic character of the wife of Zeus. Max MŘller.

{ ||Chthon`o*pha"gi*a (?), Chtho*noph"a*gy (?), } n. [NL. chthonophagia; Gr. &?;, &?;, earth + &?; to eat.] A disease characterized by an irresistible desire to eat earth, observed in some parts of the southern United States, the West Indies, etc.

Chub (?), n. [This word seems to signify a large or thick fish. Cf. Sw. kubb a short and thick piece of wood, and perh. F. chabot chub.] (Zo÷l.) A species to fresh-water fish of the CyprinidŠ or Carp family. The common European species is Leuciscus cephalus; the cheven. In America the name is applied to various fishes of the same family, of the genera Semotilus, Squalius, Ceratichthys, etc., and locally to several very different fishes, as the tautog, black bass, etc.

Chub mackerel (Zo÷l.), a species of mackerel (Scomber colias) in some years found in abundance on the Atlantic coast, but absent in others; -- called also bull mackerel, thimble-eye, and big- eye mackerel. -- Chub sucker (Zo÷l.), a fresh-water fish of the United States (Erimyzon sucetta); -- called also creekfish.

Chub"bed (?), a. Chubby. [R.] H. Brooke.

Chub"bed*ness, n. The state of being chubby.

Chub"by (?), a. Like a chub; plump, short, and thick. "Chubby faces." I. Taylor.

Chub"-faced` (?), a. Having a plump, short face.

Chuck (chŭk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chucked (chŭkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Chucking.] [Imitative of the sound.] 1. To make a noise resembling that of a hen when she calls her chickens; to cluck.

2. To chuckle; to laugh. [R.] Marston.

Chuck, v. t. To call, as a hen her chickens. Dryden.

Chuck, n. 1. The chuck or call of a hen.

2. A sudden, small noise.

3. A word of endearment; -- corrupted from chick. "Pray, chuck, come hither." Shak.

Chuck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chucked (chŭkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Chucking.] [F. choquer to strike. Cf. Shock, v. t.] 1. To strike gently; to give a gentle blow to.

Chucked the barmaid under the chin. W. Irving.

2. To toss or throw smartly out of the hand; to pitch. [Colloq.] "Mahomet Ali will just be chucked into the Nile." Lord Palmerson.

3. (Mech.) 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.

Chuck, n. 1. A slight blow or pat under the chin.

2. A short throw; a toss.

3. (Mach.) A contrivance or machine fixed to the mandrel of a lathe, for holding a tool or the material to be operated upon.

Chuck farthing, a play in which a farthing is pitched into a hole; pitch farthing. -- Chuck hole, a deep hole in a wagon rut. -- Elliptic chuck, a chuck having a slider and an eccentric circle, which, as the work turns round, give it a sliding motion across the center which generates an ellipse. Knight.

Chuck (chŭk), n. 1. A small pebble; -- called also chuckstone and chuckiestone. [Scot.]

2. pl. A game played with chucks, in which one or more are tossed up and caught; jackstones. [Scot.]

Chuck, n. A piece of the backbone of an animal, from between the neck and the collar bone, with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking; as, a chuck steak; a chuck roast. [Colloq.]

Chuc"kle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chuckled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chuckling (?).] [From 1st Chuck.]

1. To call, as a hen her chickens; to cluck. [Obs.] Dryden.

2. To fondle; to cocker. [Obs.] Dryden.