Obs. exc. dial. (see CHAMP v.]
1. To bite, chew; = CHAMP v. 1–3.
1398. Trevisa, Barth De P. R., XVII. v. 606. It is full harde and maye not be chewed and whyles men chamme theron, the bytter sauour wythin is not felte.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, III. xiii. The priest toucheth not Christs natural body with his hands … nor chammeth it with his teeth.
1530. Palsgr., 480/2. Chamme the breed in your mouthe.
1675. Hobbes, Odyss., XII. 263. When she my men cham’d in her ugly chaps.
1825. Britton, Beauties Wilts. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Cham, to chew.
1881. Smith, Isle Wight Gloss. (E. D. S.), Cham, to chew.
[1888. Heard in Oxford from a native.]
2. = CHAMP v. 6; to pound, mash. dial.
In South of Scotland, as ‘to cham sand,’ for strewing on wet floors.
Hence Chammed ppl. a., Chamming vbl. sb.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 339. Glewe made of chammed whete.
1528. More, Heresyes, III. Wks. 242/1. Not for ye reading & receiuing: but for the busy chamming therof [the scripture].
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 7. They confine them to the chamming of their beads.
1611. Cotgr., Masché … chawed chewed, chammed, champed.
