Forms: 5–6 chubbe, (9 chubb), 7– chub. [Late ME. chubbe, of unknown origin.
Prof. Skeat compares kubb block, log of a tree (which agrees in meaning with sense 3), and other similar Sw. and Da. words: but no phonetic connection between ku- and chu- is known either in Norse or English. See other conjectures in Wedgwood and E. Müller.]
1. A river fish (Cyprinus or Leuciscus cephalus) of the Carp family (Cyprinidæ), also called the Chevin. It is a thick fat coarse-fleshed fish, of a dusky green color on the upper parts and silvery-white beneath, frequenting deep holes, especially about the roots of trees, and in warm weather rising near the surface.
1496. Bk. St. Albans, Fishing, 16. The cheuen chubbe: the breme: the tenche and the ele.
1570. Levins, Manip., 181. A chubbe, bruscum.
1653. Walton, Angler, 47. A Chub is the worst fish that swims.
1741. Compl. Fam. Piece, II. ii. (ed. 3), 346. Chub (known by the Name of Chevin or Chavender) are a strong unactive Fish.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), I. I. 313. Still the lazy chub did swim By inches ’gainst the stream.
1873. G. C. Davies, Mount. & Mere, xi. 89. The Virniew has holes where the big chub sleep away the lazy day.
b. U.S. A local name for the Black Bass (Perca huro). Also ‘a name sometimes given to the Blackfish (Tautoga americana).’ (Bartlett.).
1863. Thoreau, Excursions, 31. The chub is a soft fish, and tastes like brown paper salted.
1883. J. A. Henshall, in Century Mag., July, 376/2. There are but two species [of black bass], the large-mouthed bass and the small-mouthed bass…. They are known in different sections of our country [U.S.] as bass, perch, trout, chub, or salmon. Fred. Mather, in Ibid. (1884), April, 903/1. A black bass … becomes a ‘chub’ in Virginia.
† 2. transf. A lazy spiritless person; a rustic, simpleton, dolt, fool; also, playfully, lad, ‘fellow,’ ‘chap.’ Obs.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, VII. U ij. Like fraies of countreis chubs.
1623. Cockeram, Gnoffe, a churle, a foole, a chub.
1657. G. Starkey, Helmont’s Vind., 22. Fine-fingred chubs, who will be more scrupulous of fouling their hands with coals, than careful to keep a good conscience.
1706. Phillips, Chub, a Jolt-head, or clownish Fellow; a raw, inexperienced young Fellow.
c. 1745. Songs Costume (1849), 223. When a young miss has a chub by her side.
b. (Cf. CHUBBY.)
1721–1800. Bailey, Chub, a Jolt-head, a great-headed, full-cheeked Fellow.
3. (Cf. chock, chunk.) dial.
1796. Marshall, E. Yorksh., ed. 2 (E. D. S. 1879), Chub, a thick, clubbed piece of firewood.
1876. Mid. Yorksh. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Chub, a wood-log.
4. a. attrib. Pertaining to the chub, chub-like.
1681. Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., ii. (1689), 17. Barbel and Chub Lines must be very strong.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 306/1. Of Birds … a chub Bill [is a] thick and short Bill.
b. Comb., as † chub-cheeked, † chub-faced: having chubby cheeks or face (from the general obese appearance of the fish); chub-headed (see quot.); chub-sucker, a sea-fish of the genus Labeo, also called the Horned Sucker (Bartlett).
1715. Kersey, *Chub-cheeked, that has full Cheeks.
1721. in Bailey.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., III. ii. G 2. The *chub-fac’t fop Shines sleeke with full cramm’d fat of happinesse.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 299, ¶ 2. I have a little Chub-faced Boy as like me as he can stare.
1796. Marshall, E. Yorksh., ed. 2 (E. D. S., 1879). *Chub-headed, large or thick headed; spoken of cattle or sheep.
