Chaw

[imp. & p. p. CHAWED; p. pr. & vb. n. CHAWING.] [A-S. ceowan, O. H. Ger. chiuwan, M. H. Ger. kiuwen, N. H. Ger. kauen, D. kauwen. See CHEW.] 1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating; to ruminate, or to chew, as the cud. The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foaming bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey. 2. To ruminate in thought; to revolve and consider. Dryden. ☞ A word formerly in good use, but now regarded as very vulgar.