[champ, chomp] 
| 1. | to bite upon or grind, esp. impatiently: The horses champed the oats. |
| 2. | to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch. |
| 3. | to mash; crush. |
| 4. | to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth. |
| 5. | the act of champing. |
| 6. | champ at the bit, to betray impatience, as to begin some action. |
| champ 1 (chāmp) v. champed, champ·ing, champs v. tr. To bite or chew upon noisily. See Synonyms at bite. v. intr. To work the jaws and teeth vigorously. [Probably imitative.] |
champ at the bit
Show impatience at being held back or delayed, as in The dismissal bell hadn't rung, but they were champing at the bit to leave. This term transfers the action of a horse that impatiently bites the bit in its mouth to human behavior. [Mid-1600s]
