subs. (colloquial).—A close companion; a bosom friend; an intimate. Formerly a chamber-fellow or mate. [Johnson calls it a term used in the Universities, and the earliest quot. seems to bear him out. The derivation is uncertain, and Dr. Murray says ‘no historical proof connecting it with “chamber-fellow” or “chamber-mate” has been found.’]
1684. CREECH, Theocritus, Idyll XII; Ded. to my CHUM, Mr. Hody of Wadham College. [M.]
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. CHUM: a Chamber-fellow, or constant Companion.
1714. Spectator, No. 617. Letter written by University man to a friend begins ‘Dear CHUM.’
c. 1750. Humours of the Fleet, quoted in J. Ashton’s Eighteenth Century Waifs, p. 249. When you have a CHUM, you pay but fifteen pence per week each.
1828–45. HOOD, Poems, vol. II., p. 201 (ed. 1846), ‘A Retrospective Review.’
| The very CHUM that shared my cake | |
| Holds out so cold a hand to shake, | |
| It makes me shrink and sigh. |
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, ch. v., The Colonel, as has been stated, had an Indian CHUM or companion, with whom he shared his lodgings.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21, p. 6, col. 2. His [Allingham’s] own chosen friend was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his CHUMS the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Gossip; pal; pard (American); marrow (north-country); cully (theatrical); cummer; ben cull; butty; bo’ (nautical); mate or matey; ribstone; bloater;
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une branche (literally a branch or bough); un amar or amarre (thieves’, Cf., amarre, a cable, rope, hawser); un aminche, aminchemar, or aminchemince (thieves’: aminche d’af = an accomplice or stallsman); amis comme cochons (popular, m. pl.: literally ‘as thick as pigs.’ Cf., AS THICK AS THIEVES); un matelot; une coterie (popular); un bon attelage (cavalry = a couple of good friends; literally ‘a good team’); un artiste (popular); un camerluche or camarluche (popular); vieux frère la côte (sailors’); un camaro; une faridole (prostitutes’ = a female pal); un fanande, or fanandel (thieves’).
GERMAN SYNONYMS: Gleicher (also ‘a brother’); Kineh or Kinehbruaer (Viennese thieves’: German thieves use Kinne; from the Hebrew Kinnim, ‘a louse’; Kinnemachler, literally ‘lice eater’ = a dirty, filthy fellow; also = a miser. Kinimer = a man full of lice).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Furbo = ‘an imposter, rogue, or sharper’); foneo; calcagno; guido, or guidone (literally a ‘guide.’ Also a ‘dog’ or ‘beggar’).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Cirineo (m); compinche (m).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYM. Filhos do Golpe (literally ‘children of the crowd’).
2. (military).—A brother-in-arms.
1890. KIPLING, Plain Tales (3rd ed.), p. 264, ‘A Trusty Chum.’
| Oh! Where would I be when my froat was dry? | |
| Oh! Where would I be when the bullets fly? | |
| Oh! Where would I be when I came to die? | |
| Why, | |
| Somewheres anigh my CHUM. |
Verb, trs. and intrs. (colloquial).—To occupy a joint lodging, or share expenses; to be on the closest terms of intimacy with another; to be ‘thick as thieves’; or ‘thick as hops.’ French slang has être dans la chemise de quelqu’un; also être du dernier bien avec quelqu’un.
1730. WESLEY, Works (1872) XII., 20. There are … some honest fellows in College, who would be willing to CHUM in one of them. [M.]
1762. CHURCHILL, The Ghost, bk. ii., line 439.
| Old Maids and Rakes are join’d together, | |
| Coquettes and Prudes, like April weather. | |
| Wit ’s forc’d to CHUM with Common-Sense. |
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 339 (ed. 1857). ‘Why I don’t rightly know about to-night,’ replied the stout turnkey. ‘You’ll be CHUMMED on somebody to-morrow, and then you’ll be all snug and comfortable.’
1864. Temple Bar, Nov., p. 587. We choose our own carriages, and either leave our fellow trippers altogether, or, making a selection, CHUM in parties of three or four.
1871. M. COLLINS, Marquis and Merchant, II., v., 143. She … found herself CHUMMED upon a young person who turned out to be … a … slattern. [M.]
1877. BESANT and RICE, With Harp and Crown, ch. xii. Here are City clerks, who, by CHUMMING together, are able to afford one festive evening in the week at the Oxford.
NEW CHUM, subs. (Australian).—A new arrival in the colony; a ‘greenhorn’; or ‘tenderfoot.’ For general synonyms, see SNOOKER.
1861. H. EARLE, Ups and Downs … of Australian Life, p. 199. ‘I suppose you’re a stranger, or as we calls ’em, a NEW CHUM, ain’t you?’
1886. E. WAKEFIELD, Nineteenth Century, Aug., p. 173. In these colonies [Australia], where pretty nearly every one has made several sea voyages, that subject is strictly tabooed in all rational society. To dilate upon it is to betray a NEW CHUM.
1889. Town and Country, 16 Feb. ‘Answers to Correspondents.’ NEW CHUM (Forbes):—The first instalment will be due, etc.
